This article provides a detailed overview of pancreatic cancer, highlighting its causes, common symptoms, diagnostic methods, and treatment options. It emphasizes the importance of early detection and presents various surgical and non-surgical therapies available for managing this aggressive disease.

Comprehensive Guide to Pancreatic Cancer: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Strategies

Pancreatic cancer arises when abnormal cells in the pancreas turn malignant. Situated behind the stomach, the pancreas plays a crucial role in producing digestive enzymes and insulin to regulate blood sugar levels. Most cases originate in the exocrine tissue and can spread within the organ. The condition is more common in men than women.

Possible Causes: Although the precise cause remains unclear, risk factors such as genetic mutations, inflammation, smoking, obesity, sedentary habits, high-fat diets, alcohol consumption, diabetes, and liver conditions like cirrhosis can increase likelihood.

Symptoms often appear late and can be nonspecific, making early diagnosis difficult. Common signs include upper abdominal pain radiating to the back, jaundice (yellow skin and eyes), reduced appetite, nausea, unexpected weight loss, fatigue, depression, greasy stools, itching, blood clots, and swelling of nearby organs.

Diagnosis Techniques: Confirming pancreatic cancer involves various tests, such as MRI, CT scans, biopsies, ultrasound, endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), angiography, percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC), laparoscopy, ERCP, and blood tests.

Treatment Strategies: Treatment depends on the cancer stage. Surgical options include the Whipple procedure to remove the pancreatic head, total pancreatectomy for the entire organ, or distal pancreatectomy for the tail, often with spleen removal. Additional therapies like radiation and chemotherapy can help control tumor growth.