Pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer's disease overview

What is

What is pancreatic cancer?

Pancreatic cancer (English name is Pancreatic Cancer) is a form of cancer related to tissues in the pancreas, an important endocrine organs behind the stomach, near the gallbladder. The pancreas has the role of producing enzymes that support digestion and hormones (Glucagon and insulin) regulating blood sugar. In this form of cancer, cells from the pancreas will divide and multiply without control, spread to surrounding tissues, forming malignant and fatal tumors for patients. >

This is a disease that is rare but very dangerous because it is difficult to detect in the early stage, often detected late, leading to high mortality. The majority of cancer patients after surgery only surgery for 2-3 years, the rate of cancer recurrence is also quite large. As for end -stage patients who cannot interfere with surgery, most of them do not live more than a year.

Pancreatic cancer is divided into two main groups, based on the area of ​​cancer affecting endocrine or external function:

The pancreatic cancer of the pancreatic pancreatic gland

Most pancreatic cancer starts from the exterior of the pancreatic gland, which produces digestive enzymes. The most common in this type is adenocarcinoma, accounting for 85% of the total number of pancreatic cancer cases. This form of cancer often comes from cells in the pancreatic tube. Other malignant diseases can include:

  • Acinar cell carcinomas

  • Sarcomas
  • Lymphomas (lymphomas)
  • Island cell cancer
    • Endocrine pancreatic cancer

    This form is less common, affecting the production of pancreatic hormones. Tumors in this form are mostly benign and less invasive than pancreatic carcinoma.

    Causes of Pancreatic cancer's disease

    Currently scientists still do not know Causes of pancreatic cancer . But there are many risk factors related to this type of cancer that has been determined:

  • Genetic factors and family history: genetic mutations can lead to the loss of control of pancreatic cells, causing cancer. These gene mutations can be inherited through generations. About 5-10% of patients with pancreatic cancer are born in families with relatives.
  • Age factor: The higher the risk of the disease. According to statistics, more than half of the pancreatic carcinoma caught in people over 70 years old but this disease rarely occurs before the age of 40.
  • Toxic factors from the environment: smokers or exposure to smoke are at risk of pancreatic cancer 20-30% higher than normal people. This risk increases with the quantity and smoking time. In addition, exposure to toxic substances such as solvents, petrol, pesticides, benzidine, herbicide, ... also has high likelihood of pancreatic cancer.

    • Gender factors: Pancreatic cancer is more common in men than women. Maybe this is because men smoke more than women.

    Other factors: chronic pancreatitis, diabetes and overweight (BMI, Body Mass Index, larger than 35) are also factors that increase the risk of cancer pancreas.

    Symptoms of Pancreatic cancer's disease

    In the early stage, the signs of pancreatic cancer do not appear clearly, depending on the position, size of the tumor and the level of metastasis. However, when the disease progresses later and the tumor develops, inserted into other organs, most patients have symptoms including:

  • jaundice or yellow eye: This phenomenon appears due to the tumor pinched into the bile ducts. Jaundice in this case is not accompanied by pain and fever, this is also a sign to distinguish biliary obstruction due to tumor compression of bile ducts and bile blockage due to gallstones.
  • Itching palms, feet.
  • Quick weight loss of unknown cause.
  • Change taste, feeling of anorexia, fatigue.
  • Abdominal pain on or back pain, often spreading from the area around the stomach to the back: This is a bad sign that the tumor has invaded the peritoneal puppet. P>
  • Smelled liquid stool- Dark colored stool: When the pancreatic tumor inserts into the pancreatic duct, it can cause symptoms of diarrhea, fat stool. However, this phenomenon is less noticeable until the appearance of jaundice.
  • Bilateral bolfing
  • vomiting, gastrointestinal bleeding due to compression tumor, duodenum invasion.

    • People at risk for Pancreatic cancer's disease

    With the above risk factors, subjects at high risk of pancreatic cancer include:

  • Smokers.

    • Elderly.

    People with a family history of pancreatic cancer.

  • Patients with diabetes or chronic pancreatitis.

    • Persons who often work in the environment in contact with toxic chemicals such as petrol, pesticides, benzimidine, ...

  • People in sedentary, overweight, obesity.

    • Prevention of Pancreatic cancer's disease

    There is currently no standard principle to prevent pancreatic cancer. However, based on the risk factors, experts recommend applying some of the following methods to minimize the risk of disease:

  • No smoking as well as avoiding contact with the smoke environment.
  • Maintain a reasonable weight, avoid being overweight or obese.

    • Has a healthy diet, eat lots of vegetables, limit greasy food.

  • Exercise regularly, try to have physical activity at least 30 minutes a day.

    • Diagnostic measures for Pancreatic cancer's disease

    When suspected patients with pancreatic cancer, doctors can conduct some methods of combining use of medical images and blood tests, testing samples as follows:

  • Computerized tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for detailed images of the pancreatic condition.

    • Endoscopic ultrasound: is considered the most sensitive and specific pancreatic cancer method.

  • Pancreatic biopsy.
  • Blood test, check the concentration index 19-9 (Cancer antigen 19-9), CEA (Carcinoembryonic Antigen).

    • Pancreatic cancer's disease treatments

    Pancreatic cancer is divided into the main stages as follows:

  • Stage 1: The tumor only appears in the pancreas, small size below 2cm. At this stage, the patient has almost no symptoms, so it is difficult to detect.
  • Stage 2: The tumor grows greater than 2cm, invades to neighboring tissues but has not impacted blood vessels. Cancer cells can be present in the surrounding lymph nodes.

    • Stage 3: metastatic pancreatic cancer to many lymph nodes as well as neighboring organs. Cancer cells invade the main blood vessels.

  • Stage 4: The tumor can have any size, invasive to other organs further as liver, lungs, peritoneal, etc.

    • Can pancreatic cancer be cured?

    The answer is yes. The cure and prolonged life for patients with pancreatic cancer depends greatly on the health and stage of the disease. The early detection of cancer will help treat better results.

    Depending on the patient condition and cancer stage, the doctor may prescribe the following treatments:

  • Surgery: Depending on the tumor position, the doctor can use one of the following procedures:

  • Whipple surgery: cutting the tip of the pancreas, the taste, the end of the bile duct, the surrounding lymph nodes.
  • Cut off the entire pancreas.
  • Cut the body and tail.  
  • Radiation therapy: This method is often used in the absence of surgery or cancer that has metastasized outside the pancreas, or combined With chemicals to treat patients after surgery. Currently, Vinmec has been applying the most advanced radiation technique SBRT to help cancer patients.
    • chemotherapy: This method is used to support radiation therapy or apply if surgery and radiation are no longer suitable. Chemotherapy helps patients prolong life, pain relief and unpleasant symptoms in the final stage.

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