The pancreas has an important function for the body because it produces digestive enzymes break down food so that functions can be absorbed by the body. In addition, the pancreas also produces hormones, including insulin, which serves to maintain the stability of blood sugar levels in the body.
Symptoms of Pancreatic Cancer
Pancreatic cancer in the early stages usually does not cause symptoms, and therefore the diagnosis becomes more difficult to do. Symptoms of pancreatic cancer at an advanced stage depending upon the part of the pancreas gland is infected because the pancreas has two types of glandular tissue. The first is a gland that produces digestive enzymes called the exocrine glands. Both are glands that produce hormones, also called endocrine glands.
Exocrine glands are glands most often infected pancreatic cancer with symptoms that commonly occur such as jaundice, weight loss, and back pain or abdominal pain.
In addition to some of the symptoms mentioned above, there are some other symptoms of pancreatic cancer is as follows:
- Diabetes
- Fever and chills
- Itchy
- Easy blood clot
- Nausea and vomiting
- Indigestion
- Changes in bowel patterns
- Loss of appetite
- Fever
Pancreatic Cancer Causes
Until now the cause of someone with pancreatic cancer is still not known for certain, but there are some risk factors that increase the chances of pancreatic cancer as shown below.
- Diabetes can increase a person's risk of pancreatic cancer. Conversely, a malignant tumor that grows in the pancreas can also be the cause of diabetes.
- Helicobacter pylori bacteria that cause stomach infections is expected to slightly increase a person's risk of pancreatic cancer.
- Smoking may increase the risk of developing pancreatic cancer due to toxic and dangerous chemical substances can cause tissue and organ in the body experience irritation and inflammation.
- Aged over 75 years.
- People who do not do a lot of physical activity, overweight or obese, and does not get used a healthy diet.
- Ever suffered from inflammation of the pancreas, or pancreatitis.
- Having a close family member suffering from pancreatic cancer.
In addition to risk factors such as those mentioned above, there are also other risk factors that can increase the risk of developing pancreatic cancer, that is, people who consume lots of alcoholic beverages excessively and patients with chronic hepatitis.
Diagnosis of Pancreatic Cancer
The diagnosis of pancreatic cancer at an early stage is difficult to do because it often does not cause symptoms in patients. Physical examination to check for pancreatic cancer is difficult to do because the pancreas lies quite hidden in the body and surrounded part of the intestine.
Here are some tests that can be done to diagnose pancreatic cancer:
- Organ in the body imaging tests such as ultrasound scan, CT, MRI, and PET scans. Additionally, endoluminal ultrasonography (EUS) can also be done if a CT scan or MRI scan has been done is less clear. Endoscope or instrument tiny camera is inserted through the mouth to the stomach to photograph the condition of the pancreas.
- Laparoscopic surgery or 'keyhole' in the abdomen to insert a small microscope called a laparoscope, to look at the organs in the abdominal cavity and pelvis.
- Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is similar to EUS, which is the process of inserting an endoscope through the mouth and into the stomach. But in the process of ERCP endoscope is used to inject a special dye into the pancreatic and bile duct to determine the presence of tumors that clog. This test is done if a person suffering from jaundice.
- A biopsy or sampling process suspected tumor cells for examination under a microscope. Small tools attached to the endoscope can be used to biopsy when performing laparoscopic procedures, ERCP or EUS.
Stages of cancer is divided into four stages or commonly called the stadium. The doctor will classify the cancer stage is based on the diagnosis that has been done. Below is the classification of the stage of pancreatic cancer:
- If cancer is found only in the pancreas and has not spread to other parts, so-called stage I.
- If the cancer has spread to tissues and organs near the pancreas, or perhaps has infected lymph nodes, referred to as stage II.
- If the cancer has spread to the major blood vessels around the pancreas and may have plagued the lymph nodes, referred to as stage III.
- If the cancer has spread to other organs such as the lungs, liver and peritoneum or membrane that lines the abdominal cavity, referred to as stage IV.
Pancreatic Cancer Treatment
Treatment of pancreatic cancer in each patient is different because there are several factors that determine the type of maintenance performed as follows:
- Section infected pancreatic cancer.
- Broad spread of cancer or stage suffered.
- The patient's age.
- The patient's overall health.
- Options or preferences of patient care.
Treatment in patients with pancreatic cancer aims to remove tumors and other cancer cells in the body. But if this is not possible to do, then the doctor will perform treatments aimed at preventing the tumor grows larger because it can lead to the emergence of further danger. In addition, maintenance performed useful to relieve the symptoms experienced, and can make patients feel comfortable.
Cancer treatment or healing process will be much more difficult if the tumor that appear in the body are large or have spread. Discuss with your doctor and family members to choose the type of care that is appropriate to the conditions you are experiencing. Here are some of the treatments that can be done to treat cancer of the pancreas.
Operation
Type of pancreatic cancer care most is to do with surgery because it can cure pancreatic cancer until fully cured. However, not all patients with pancreatic cancer can perform the operation, only one out of five patients are suitable for surgical removal of the tumor.
There are several factors that can determine the success of surgical removal of tumors, among others:
- The tumor has not spread to other body parts.
- The tumor does not grow around the important blood vessels.
- Patients in good health overall.
- The most widely performed surgery is the Whipple operation, which is to elevate the head of the pancreas. In this operation, the doctor might also assign the first part of the small intestine, the gallbladder, part of the bile duct, and sometimes part of the stomach. Approximately 30 percent of patients who had surgery Whipple require medication enzymes to help digest food. This operation has a faster recovery time than surgical removal of the pancreas total.
- Total pancreatectomy surgery to remove the entire pancreas. In addition, this operation also raised the spleen, bile ducts, most of the small intestine, gall bladder, lymph nodes surrounding the pancreas, and sometimes part of the stomach. In patients who had this surgery need to take enzymes to help digest food. Appointment organ functioning pancreas to produce insulin will make the patient suffers from diabetes as well. In addition, patients should be taking penicillin for life and routine vaccinations to prevent infection and blood clots due to the removal of the spleen.
- Distal pancreatectomy surgery to remove the body and tail of the pancreas but let the head of the pancreas. This operation also remove part of the stomach, most colon, left kidney, adrenal gland left, and the possibility of diaphragm left side will also be removed.
- If it can not be cured, surgery to relieve symptoms and make the patient more comfortable to do. This operation uses ERCP to put a stent or tube opening in the bile ducts to prevent the buildup of bilirubin element that causes jaundice. Bypass surgery that inhibits the bile duct stent can be done if the use is not suitable for the patient. Blocked bile duct will be truncated and reconnected to the intestines in order to channel the bile.
Process of postoperative recovery of pancreatic cancer should be considered because it takes a long time. Here are some things that should be considered in the process of postoperative recovery of pancreatic cancer:
- Ensure appropriate painkillers and in sufficient doses to post-operative period.
- Patients can not eat or drink immediately after undergoing surgery for intestinal digestive system as it takes time to recover.
- Before a patient can eat and drink more regularly, the patient will sip fluids slowly.
- A series of chemotherapy for six months is usually recommended after surgery. It is quite a major impact for the patient's chances of recovery.
To destroy malignant cancer cells in the body or prevent its growth, the patient can resume chemotherapy with anticancer drugs. Chemotherapy can be done before or after surgery, or if surgery can not be done. Chemotherapy drugs has two forms, which are consumed directly and is given intravenously.
Chemotherapy has many side effects because it can attack healthy cells and normal. Side effects that may occur, such as mouth sores, fatigue, nausea, and vomiting. In addition, chemotherapy can also increase the risk of infection. The side effects experienced by patients due to chemotherapy usually temporary and will subside once the treatment is completed.
The risk of side effects increases when patients undergo chemotherapy treatment combination, but it could increase the possibility of control or out of cancer.
Radiotherapy
To help shrink tumors and relieve the pain, the patient can perform cancer therapy using beams of high energy radiation called radiotherapy. For patients who can not perform surgery to treat cancer, a doctor may recommend to perform a combination treatment of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
However, this therapy has few side effects, such as loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, diarrhea, and rash. The side effects experienced by patients as a result of radiotherapy usually only temporary and will subside once the treatment is completed.
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