Pancreatic cancer is the cancer of the pancreas.
The pancreas is an organ is between the stomach, liver and intestine in your abdomen. Digestive enzymes are released by the pancreas into the small intestine to aid the digestion of food. Hormones, insulin and glucagon are also released by the pancreas into the bloodstream. Pancreatic cancer is difficult to diagnose and is usually discovered only in the later stages. The most common type is pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
Pancreatic cancer is often found in its later stages after it has spread to other organs as symptoms often do not show in its earlier stages, when the chances of curing it is greater. The most common form of pancreatic cancer is pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma which begins in the cells that line the ducts carrying enzymes out of the pancreas.
Exocrine Pancreatic Cancer
The most common type of exocrine pancreatic cancers is pancreatic adenocarcinoma while the rarer ones include, adenosquamous, squamous, giant, acinar and small cell carcinoma.
Endocrine Pancreatic Cancer
Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors or islet cell tumors are less common forms of pancreatic cancer.
Pancreatic cancer often does not exhibit symptoms till the cancer is advanced. When symptoms do show, they include:
Biopsy
A biopsy is done on any suspicious tumours or growths in the pancreas for signs of cancer.
Blood Test
A complete blood count blood test will be done to check for white blood cell increase which could be a sign of cancer.
Imaging Tests
Imaging tests are done with ultrasound or CT scan to check the pancreas for abnormalities, tumours or growths.
