Pancreatic cancer is a serious disease in which cancerous cells first develop in the pancreas. This eMedTV article provides an overview of pancreatic cancer, including information about its symptoms and a discussion of its diagnosis and treatment.
The pancreas is a gland in the abdomen that makes insulin, other hormones, and pancreatic juices. This eMedTV Web page describes the location and purpose of the pancreas in the body, including its role in helping the body use and store energy.
In the case of pancreatic cancer, causes of the disease have not yet been identified. As this eMedTV segment explains, however, researchers have found certain risk factors (such as cigarette smoking) that increase the chances of getting the disease.
In cases of pancreatic cancer, symptoms may include upper abdominal or back pain, jaundice, and weakness. This eMedTV article identifies possible symptoms of pancreatic cancer, which do not usually develop until the later stages of the disease.
Doctors making a pancreatic cancer diagnosis will often order lab tests, CT scans, and other tests. This eMedTV article explains why diagnosing pancreatic cancer is often difficult and takes a look at the steps involved in making such a diagnosis.
The stages of pancreatic cancer include stages 0 through IV and recurrent cases of the disease. This eMedTV article defines these stages of pancreatic cancer, which are used to describe the extent of the disease.
In cases of pancreatic cancer, treatment may involve surgery, chemotherapy, and/or radiotherapy. This eMedTV article covers treatment of pancreatic cancer, including information about clinical trials, second opinions, and side effects.
A pancreatic cancer prognosis is an informed opinion concerning the course and outcome of the disease. This eMedTV Web page examines factors that affect a prognosis for a person with pancreatic cancer and provides survival rates and other statistics.
Pancreatic cancer research currently under way includes studies involving biological therapy. This eMedTV Web page discusses other areas of focus for research being conducted on pancreatic cancer, such as studies of new drugs to treat the cancer.
Based on pancreatic cancer statistics, an estimated 32,300 Americans will die from the disease in 2006. This eMedTV page offers statistics concerning pancreatic cancer, including survival rates and age-at-diagnosis figures.
During 1998-2002, the age-adjusted mortality of pancreatic cancer was 10.5 per 100,000 Americans per year. This eMedTV article includes mortality rates for pancreatic cancer, which causes about 30,000 deaths in the United States each year.
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