Pancreatic cancer is the fourth most common cancer in men and the fifth most common in women in the U.S. It occurs nearly twice as often in men as women, but rarely develops before age 50. It is two to three times more common in heavy smokers than in non-smokers. People who have chronic pancreatitis are at a higher risk of developing pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer is not contagious.
Little is known about the causes of pancreatic cancer. Cigarette smoking is the most consistently reported risk factor for the development of the tumor, with the disease being two to three times more common in heavy smokers than in non-smokers. There is no convincing evidence linking pancreatic cancer to alcohol abuse, the presence of gallstones, or coffee consumption. Approximately 95 percent of malignant pancreatic tumors arise in the glandular ducts of the organ which normally convey enzymes needed for digestion to the small bowel; such glandular cancers are known as adenocarcinomas and represent what is generally known as “pancreatic cancer”.
In many cases, pancreatic cancer symptoms do not occur until the advanced stages. When pancreatic cancer symptoms do occur, they are often ignored because they are so vague and nonspecific. The first pancreatic cancer symptoms are usually pain in the abdomen and weight loss. Additional pancreatic cancer symptoms to look for include jaundice, fatigue, dizziness, weakness, diarrhea, chills, and muscle spasms.
Healthy cells that make up the body's tissues grow, divide, and replace themselves in an orderly way. This process keeps the body in good repair. Sometimes, however, some cells lose the ability to control their growth. They grow too rapidly and without any order. Too much tissue is made, and tumors are formed. Tumors can be benign or malignant.
Causes of Pancreatic Cancer
Cancer is caused by uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells. When these cells grow and form a mass it is called a tumour. When pancreatic cancer cells break away and enter the bloodstream or lymphatic system they can spread the cancer. The spread of cancer is called metastasis; places where the cancer has spread are called metastases. The reason for the development of cancer cells in the pancreas is not known, but research has shown that people with certain risk factors are more likely to develop pancreatic cancer than others.
For locally advanced pancreatic cancer that cannot be surgically removed safely, a combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy or chemotherapy alone may be offered. This treatment remains controversial, and various centers have different recommendations based on a number of factors such as size of the disease and symptoms. Chemotherapy is the cornerstone of treatment of pancreatic cancer that is locally advanced or metastatic. The chemotherapy agent most commonly used in this setting is gemcitabine
Medications
Gemcitabine (Gemzar): Gemcitabine is given intravenously once a week for 7 weeks (or until toxicity limits treatment), and then no treatment is given for 1 week. Then, cycles are resumed of gemcitabine once each week for 3 weeks in a row followed by 1 week off. This drug has direct effects on the cancer cells and is usually given alone for the treatment of metastatic pancreatic cancer.
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