Pancreatic cancer is condition where cancerous cells first develop in the pancreas. This eMedTV article provides an overview of the disease, 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 this part of 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.
As explained in this eMedTV article, pancreatic cancer stages range from 0 through IV, as well as recurrent cases of the disease. This resource defines these stages, 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 these treatment options in detail, including information about clinical trials, second opinions, and side effects.
An informed opinion concerning the course and outcome of a disease is called a prognosis. This eMedTV Web page examines factors that affect a person's prognosis for 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.
