Pancreatic cancer or pancreatic cancer is a rare cancer. Unfortunately, it is currently still considered to be very difficult to cure. In most cases, pancreatic cancer cannot be cured because the disease is often diagnosed and treated too late. The earlier the disease is recognized, the higher the chances of survival. Pancreatic cancer can be prevented, among other things, by refraining from smoking and alcohol consumption, as well as eating a healthy diet and plenty of exercise and sport.
What is pancreatic cancer?
Abbreviated as PC by Abbreviationfinder, pancreatic cancer is relatively rare with a statistical probability of 3% of all cancers. The corresponding tumor is usually found in the so-called exocrine part of the pancreas on the back wall of the abdomen below the diaphragm.
In most cases, the duct cells at the gland outlets are malignant (exocrine tumor). In rarer cases, pancreatic cancer begins in the hormone cells of the islets of Langerhans in the glandular lobules (endocrine tumor).
Due to the deceptive freedom from pain in this disease, pancreatic cancer is considered very insidious, and when the risk is recognized, the patient and his doctor often run out of time during treatment due to the formation of metastases.
Therefore, the chances of survival in the case of pancreatic cancer diagnosed late are unfortunately not too high up to now.
Causes
The basic causes for the development of pancreatic cancer are still unknown. However, there are a number of factors that have a positive effect on the negative development of pancreatic cancer. Thus, in smokers, a three and a half times higher risk of developing pancreatic cancer. High alcohol consumption also promotes the development of the disease. The connection between excessive tobacco and alcohol consumption is particularly dangerous.
Previous illnesses such as stomach ulcers or chronic pancreatitis, but also changes in the genetic material, can lead to pancreatic cancer. In addition, environmental pollution is currently suspected of promoting pancreatic cancer.
These include poisons such as herbicides (pesticides), pesticides (insecticides) and fungicides (fungicides), but also electromagnetic fields, exhaust gases, chromium and chlorine. But mind you, these factors are not causally responsible for pancreatic cancer or have been scientifically proven.
Symptoms, ailments & signs
In the first phase of pancreatic cancer there are no or only very weak symptoms. However, these can also occur with other diseases, so that those affected do not perceive the danger in time and consult a doctor. Only when the cancer is more advanced and no treatment has taken place, severe symptoms can occur.
Above all, these include: fatty stools, abdominal pain in the upper abdomen and feeling of pressure, weight loss and loss of appetite, as well as vomiting and nausea. However, these symptoms also occur in a similar form in pancreatitis and can therefore easily be confused.
The first symptoms appear in the advanced stage, in which a cure is usually no longer possible. Then there is pain in the left upper abdomen, as with pancreatitis. They radiate into the back and can wrap around the body like a belt. It is increasing dull and excruciating pain that is especially worse at night.
Unclear indigestion and a feeling of pressure can also occur. These often manifest themselves in the form of a feeling of fullness, gas and stool irregularities. If fewer digestive juices are produced, so-called fatty stools and diarrhea can occur because the fat digestion no longer functions properly. The chair turns clay-colored.
Furthermore, loss of appetite, nausea and possibly depression occur. There follows a severe weight loss, which can be more than ten percent of the body weight. Diabetes can also occur suddenly. If the tumor is in the head of the pancreas, jaundice will increase because the bile duct narrows.
When the tumor expands into the abdomen, leg vein thromboses and changes in skin pigmentation occur. In the late stages, metastases spread in the liver. They lead to liver enlargement, liver dysfunction, ascites, and extreme weight loss. After the onset of the first symptoms of pancreatic cancer, death occurs within a few months.
Course
Typical for the development of pancreatic cancer is the dangerous and completely painless freedom from symptoms. Pancreatic cancer as an exocrine tumor spreads unnoticed after the tumor has grown, initially to the surrounding body regions via the bloodstream and the lymphatic system.
In most cases, the liver is affected, but the lungs and even the skeleton are also at risk. This almost inevitably leads to a rather unfavorable prognosis. In the case of an endocrine tumor, the growth of the nodule initially displaces the surrounding tissue, while the formation of metastases progresses rather slowly and thus a more successful treatment can be hoped for even if pancreatic cancer is diagnosed late. Nevertheless, the majority of pancreatic cancer that is not recognized in time is fatal in the short or long term.
Complications
Pancreatic cancer is fraught with numerous complications. For example, due to the anatomical proximity, there is a disruption of the bile outflow. As a result, the bile backs up to the gallbladder (cholestasis) and can lead to inflammation of the gallbladder (cholecystitis) or an abscess in the liver.
In the worst case, the inflammation can spread over the entire body and lead to dangerous sepsis which, if left untreated, can quickly lead to death. Pancreatic carcinoma can also lead to a blockage of the intestine (ileus), which leads to constipation and metabolic disorders. In addition, the section of the intestine can become inflamed and die off, as the blood supply is also throttled.
In rare cases, the cancer leads to metabolic disorders, as insufficient enzymes and hormones are no longer produced. For example, diabetes can develop over time. Too many hormones can also be produced, as is the case with an insulinoma, for example, which leads to hypoglycaemia.
In contrast, there is the glucagonoma, which leads to hypoglycaemia. A gastrinoma increases the risk of developing a stomach ulcer. Overall, however, pancreatic cancer has a very poor prognosis and can only be treated completely if it is detected early. The 5-year survival rate at diagnosis is less than one percent.
When should you go to the doctor?
The pancreas is located in the back of the abdomen. Symptoms therefore appear very late, and when the diagnosis is made, the tumors have often outgrown the organs. Early symptoms are usually unspecific and diffuse. Feeling unwell, flatulence, fatty stools and pain in the upper abdomen often indicate diseases of the pancreas. If you then add weight loss and back pain in the waist area, this should be viewed as a warning signal.
Jaundice can also be an indicator of pancreatic cancer. The bile duct and pancreatic duct flow together into the duodenum. If the tumor sits at this point, it closes the bile duct and the bile secretion builds up and turns yellow. A new onset of diabetes can also be a warning sign. In rare cases, an acute pancreatitis occurs beforehand. If alcohol addiction or gallstones are excluded, a tumor can be the cause.
In all cases – with the exception of inflammation of the pancreas, which is part of clinical treatment – the family doctor is the first point of contact. A blood count with the pancreas lipase and amylase values as well as the liver values can provide an initial clue. Also an ultrasound examination, which is difficult due to the location of the pancreas. Intestinal gases often overlap this area. If the findings are unclear, a computer or magnetic resonance tomography is recommended as soon as possible for an exact clarification.
Treatment & Therapy
Treatment for pancreatic cancer depends on the type of disease, the stage it has already reached, and the age and general health of the patient. An operation in the course of which the tumor and the surrounding lymph nodes are removed is, however, an unavoidable measure. The success of such an operation, however, presupposes that the progress of the disease is still limited to the pancreas.
The following long-term treatment for pancreatic cancer may vary depending on the stage of the disease. You can choose between chemotherapy or radiation therapy, as well as a combination of both.
In addition to radiation therapy, Erlotinib is also used to treat pancreatic cancer. This is a metastasis blocker, which is usually only suitable for patients in whom the disease has progressed so far that an operation appears to be hopeless from the outset. In terms of treatment, pancreatic cancer is a lengthy affair that can often only be completely cured if it is detected early.
Outlook & forecast
Pancreatic cancer has a very high mortality rate. Initially, the tumor only affects the pancreas itself. However, in later stages it quickly spreads to surrounding tissue and organs. This includes the spleen, duodenum, stomach, liver or large intestine. In addition, the malignant tumor also forms distant metastases via distribution through the lymph nodes in the lungs or the bones.
In many cases, the massive space requirement results in an impairment of the liver function due to congestion of the bile duct. An additional inflammation of the pancreas can result from a blockage of the drainage of the glands. The secretion of hormones is then considered to be greatly reduced in some cases and as a result, an insulin deficiency with diabetes develops.
Chances of survival depend on when the cancer was diagnosed. Rapidly spreading adenocarcinoma has an unfavorable prognosis due to the aggressive nature of the tumor cells. The mortality rate for the rare cystadenocarcinoma is significantly lower. This does not spread over a long period of time and grows relatively slowly. A pure infestation of the endocrine segment even allows the successful removal of the entire tumor in later stages.
If surgical intervention is not possible, the average life expectancy is a maximum of five months after the diagnosis has been made. After five years, only 0.2% to 0.4% of those affected are still alive. In general, pancreatic carcinoma is therefore one of the most dangerous tumor diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
You can do that yourself
Patients with pancreatic cancer can optimize their diet to improve their health. There are already various research approaches according to which the regular consumption of vegetables from the cruciferous family can be supportive of the initiated cancer therapy.
The consumption of broccoli, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts can help and therefore strengthen the patient. The overall diet should be balanced and healthy. The intake of vitamins and trace elements is particularly important in order to support the own immune system and to achieve an improvement in wellbeing.
Despite existing complaints and discomfort, the patient should ensure sufficient exercise. Daily stays in the fresh air support the supply of oxygen, relieve the cardiovascular system and strengthen the organism. Consumption of harmful substances such as nicotine or alcohol should be avoided as a matter of principle. On the other hand, techniques that contribute to mental strengthening are helpful. Daily exercises and training sessions that lead to internal stabilization and the building of new confidence are highly recommended.
In addition to autogenic training, meditation or yoga, cognitive behavioral therapies can promote optimism or a positive attitude towards life. An exchange between the affected person in self-help groups or forums can give new impulses. In addition, sick and recovered patients can provide each other with assistance in dealing with the disease in everyday life.
