Pancreatic Cancer
Pancreatic cancer is an abnormal growth of cells in the pancreas tissue. The pancreas is about 6 inches long (about 13 cm) and is located next to the small intestine, behind the stomach. This body performs two main functions in the body. Produces juices and enzymes to aid the process of digestion and absorption of food. It also produces several hormones, including insulin, which regulate the way your body stores and processes food.
About 95% of all pancreatic cancers begin in the region of the pancreas that produces digestive fluids (exocrine pancreas). The remaining 5 percent beginning in the region that produces hormones (endocrine pancreas). The different types of tumors are very different. It is extremely important for physicians to confirm the type of pancreatic cancer because there are various treatments. Since a majority of cancers in the pancreas are exocrine pancreatic tumors (adenocarcinomas), this article will focus on this type of cancer.
Unless the pancreatic cancer is detected at an early stage, usually has already spread beyond the pancreas at the time of diagnosis. Pancreatic cancer tends to occur in older people and the incidence increases as people age. In the U.S., health professionals estimated that 33,730 people would be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2006 and about 32,300 die of this disease. It is expected that pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in men and the fifth leading cause of death in women in 2006.
It is not known for certain the cause of pancreatic cancer, however, cigarette smoking significantly increases the risk of developing pancreatic cancer. There is evidence that the risk of pancreatic cancer increases the most in a person who smokes and has smoked for many years. Smokers who have quit have a lower risk of developing pancreatic cancer than those who continue to smoke.
In most patients with pancreatic cancer, the cause is not detected.