Pancreatic Cancer
(Cancer of the Pancreas)
Pancreatic Cancer Symptoms and Signs
What are the symptoms and signs of pancreatic cancer?
Pancreatic cancer has been called a "silent" disease because early pancreatic cancer usually does not cause symptoms. If the tumor blocks the common bile duct and bile cannot pass into the digestive system, the skin and whites of the eyes may become yellow, and the urine may become darker. This condition is called jaundice.
As the cancer grows and spreads, pain often develops in the upper abdomen and sometimes spreads to the back. The pain may become worse after the person eats or lies down. Cancer of the pancreas can also cause nausea, loss of appetite, weight loss, and weakness.
A rare type of pancreatic cancer, called islet cell cancer, begins in the cells of the pancreas that produce insulin and other hormones. Islet cells are also called the islets of Langerhans. Islet cell cancer can cause the pancreas to produce too much insulin or hormones. When this happens, the patient may feel weak or dizzy and may have chills, muscle spasms, or diarrhea.
These symptoms may be caused by cancer or by other, less serious problems. If an individual is experiencing symptoms, a doctor should be consulted.
What are symptoms and signs of cancer of the pancreas? Learn about pancreatic cancer symptoms »
What is the pancreas?
The pancreas is a spongy, tube-shaped organ about 6 inches
long.
It is located in the back of the abdomen, behind the stomach.
The head of
the pancreas is on the right side of the abdomen. It is
connected to the
duodenum, the upper end of the small intestine. The narrow end
of the
pancreas, called the tail, extends to the left side of the body.
The pancreas makes pancreatic juices and hormones, including
insulin. Pancreatic juices, also called enzymes, help digest
food in the
small intestine. Insulin controls the amount of sugar in the
blood. Both
enzymes and hormones are needed to keep the body working right.
As pancreatic juices are made, they flow into the main
pancreatic
duct. This duct joins the common bile duct, which connects the
pancreas to
the liver and the gallbladder. The common bile duct, which
carries bile (a
fluid that helps digest fat), connects to the small intestine
near the
stomach.
What is cancer?
Cancer is a group of diseases. More than 100 different types of
cancer are known, and several types of cancer can develop in
the pancreas.
They all have one thing in common: abnormal cells grow and
destroy body
tissue.
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.
Benign tumors are not cancer. They do not spread to other parts
of the body and are seldom a threat to life. Often, benign
tumors can be
removed by surgery, and they are not likely to return.
Malignant tumors are cancer. They can invade and destroy nearby
healthy tissues and organs. Cancer cells also can break away
from the
tumor and spread to other parts of the body. The spread of
cancer is
called metastasis.
Cancer that starts in the pancreas is called pancreatic cancer.
When pancreatic cancer spreads, it usually travels through the
lymphatic
system. The lymphatic system includes a network of thin tubes
that branch,
like blood vessels, into tissues all over the body. Cancer
cells are
carried through these vessels by lymph, a colorless, watery
fluid that
carries cells that fight infection. Along the network of
lymphatic vessels
are groups of small, bean-shaped organs called lymph nodes.
Surgeons often
remove lymph nodes near the pancreas to learn whether they
contain cancer
cells.
Cancer cells can also be carried through the bloodstream to the
liver, lungs, bone, or other organs. Pancreatic cancer that
spreads to
other organs is called metastatic pancreatic cancer.
Pancreas (Pancreatic Cancer)
Cancer that starts in the pancreas is called pancreatic cancer. This picture of the pancreas shows its location in the back of the abdomen, behind the stomach.
Next: What causes cancer of the pancreas? »
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