One of the organs of the digestive system in the humans is pancreas and it plays very import roles for the functioning of our body. It can be said that it is divided into two parts since one part secretes the juices, which are full of the enzymes that assist in the digestion of the eaten foods, while the other part of this small organ produces several hormones like insulin, glucagon and Somatostatin, and we all know how these hormones are important for regulating the levels of sugar in the blood.
Pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer, as the name itself suggests, develops within the pancreas, and it is among the most common culprits of cancer death. It is observed that this type of cancer occurs more in males and there are several groups of people who are susceptible to it. Smokers, obese people and those who consume high quantities of junk foods while eating small quantities of fruits and vegetables are only some of them. Pancreatic cancer may develop in those people who suffer from pancreatitis, diabetes and certain syndromes.
When one develops pancreatic cancer, he/she may feel constant fatigue, weakness, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Moreover, loss of appetite and consequent weight loss, as well as indigestion and jaundice, are also some of the symptoms of this serious pancreatic disease. The pancreatic cancer may also cause back pain, nausea and vomiting, and people suffering from it may notice that their stools turned grey in color. It is also observed that people with this type of cancer may experience paleness, which is manifested through the yellowing of skin, as well as yellowing of the whiteness of the eyes.
Treatment for pancreatic cancer
There are various treatment options that are usually employed when a cancer is treated and some of them are surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Furthermore, hormone therapy, medications and nutritional therapy may also help when a cancer is treated.
During a surgery, the removal of the infected part of the pancreas is done, while certain medications may kill the remaining cancerous cells and help the person to recover after the surgery. However, which treatment will be employed depends on the health of the patient and the stage of the pancreatic cancer since all these treatments have their side effects. It is estimated that less than 50% of the people with pancreatic cancer survive this disease, but the truth is that the survival rate depends on many factors related to the cancer and the patient.
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