While many different diseases are classified as cancers, pancreas cancer is considered one of the leading factors of death. According to the fact sheet provided by the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network in U.S, pancreas cancer is the 11th and 8th common type of cancer diagnosed in men and women, respectively.
Silent cancer
Almost all symptoms and signs of pancreas cancer are not detected in the primary stages when treatment is estimated to be successful. In contrast, pancreas cancer symptoms are generally noticed after the disease is less possibly to be treated. That's why pancreas cancer is named 'silent cancer'.
In order to determine the common symptoms of pancreas cancer, it is important to identify the main functions the …show more content…
- Depression
Treatment of pancreas cancer
Pancreas may develop different cancers such as adenocarcinoma and VIPoma, thereby treatment varies, and it generally depends on which pancreatic part is affected as well as the stage of the disease. However, surgery is a helpful option for almost all patients with pancreas cancer, as it may be involved in the 4 stages of pancreas cancer. Pancreas cancer surgery may be intended for both preventing and relieving symptoms.
Pancreas cancer surgery
While there are 5 types of pancreas cancer surgery, all of them require prior imaging tests and may require a minor prior surgery that determines the stage of cancer so as to determine which surgery is more preferred.
Laparoscopy
Laparoscopy surgery depends on making small cuts in the abdomen, and utilizing a video camera which helps detect the extent of pancreas cancer dissemination, showing tumors in different tissues of the pancreas as well as the other abdominal …show more content…
Furthermore, the spleen may also be removed.
Total pancreatectomy
Total pancreatectomy surgery is not common; but it may be considered when the pancreas is wholly affected by cancer. This surgery includes removing of the whole pancreas, spleen, gall bladder as well as other parts of the stomach, small intestine and lymph nodes.
Palliative surgery
Sometimes pancreas cancer disseminates to other organs quicker than it may be removed. All surgeries that may be performed for such cases are called palliative.
Complications of pancreas cancer surgery
Pancreas cancer surgery may result in some complications. For example,
- Whipple procedure may increase the risk of infection, diabetes, bowel disturbances and bleeding.
- Distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy may result in higher risk of bacterial infections because of the removal of the spleen, which helps fight infections.
- Total pancreatectomy may cause diabetes and improper digestion because of the lack of insulin and digestive enzymes as a result of complete removal of the pancreas. Therefore, patients regularly need to take insulin and enzymes