Notes

Pancreatic cancer what to know


In our country pancreatic cancer is considered to be the third most common cause of death from cancer . Yet there is an extremely low incidence of 3.1 percent of all cancers diagnosed in Spain in 2020, according to the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM) and in the last year they represented 6.7 percent of all cancer deaths in the country.



Pancreatic cancer is a type of cancer that can be diagnosed by its pancreatic


The experts from FEAD, the Spanish Foundation of the Digestive System (FEAD) are able to identify two kinds of tumors:




The pancreas is a site of exocrine tumors. : The most common types of this type of cancer are adenocarcinomas. They target the cells responsible for producing pancreatic juices. They are responsible for over 95% of all tumors which appear on the pancreas. This kind of cancer is often referred to as pancreatic cancer even though there are other less common cancers that can be found in the pancreas.


Cancer of the pancreas that is endocrine This kind of tumor is rarer and can occur differently than the adenocarcinoma.



Indications and causes


One of the most significant issues with this kind of cancer is the fact that, in the majority of cases it doesn't show any symptoms in the beginning stages.



According to Dr. Mileidis San Juan Acosta who is a specialist for the Digestive System and head of the FEAD Foundation Activities Committee, "in general, this disease initially does not bring about symptoms, so it's typically detected in advanced stages and its fatality is very high over 90%. The cancer will only progress as it is it able to manifest symptoms. '



A few of the symptoms identified by Acosta are. San Juan Acosta are:






Pressure on nearby nerves or organs.


A skin-colored yellowing (jaundice) that occurs when the tumor presses on the bile duct.


Loss of weight and malnutrition.


The vomiting may be "due to an obstruction of the duodenum that hinders the flow in food items from stomach into the intestinal tract."



Diagnosis


There are a number of tests available to identify pancreatic cancer, or show its severity. Analytical tests are a complimentary test in case suspect to investigate marker or enzymes in the liver that aid in the determination of suspicion.



The most precise test of radiology is the Computed Tomography (CT) or scanner, which shows if there is a tumor and its expansion, and whether it is metastasis.



In order to identify tumors that are smaller or affected lymph nodes, an endoscopic ultrasound is performed. This allows biopsies of tumors to be taken.



And endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is used to examine the bile and pancreatic ducts.



Treatment


"Treatment options for this kind of cancer are surgery, chemotherapy, and sometimes radiation therapy . They typically are interspersed among these, but there are other options for combinations. It will be determined by the position of tumor the size, extension, if there are affected lymph nodes or metastasis or blood vessels or a pathology that is associated with it "according to Dr. San Juan.



Alongside specific treatments and procedures, patients can receive additional treatments to counteract the effects of the tumor including nutritional aid or pain management insulin treatment if they develop diabetic complications, prosthetics, and even an operation to remove the bypass.



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