What is Pancreatic Cancer?
Pancreatic Cancer is cancer of an organ in the human body called the pancreas, which is located behind the lower part of the stomach. The function of this organ is to secrete certain essential enzymes to digest food and also secrete hormones to metabolize sugars such as insulin and glucagon (Mayoclinic). People get pancreatic cancer when the cells of the pancreas develop genetic mutations; and these can form in both the exocrine and endocrine cells of the pancreas, but exocrine tumors are more common than endocrine tumors. Because this cancer spreads very quickly throughout the body and the symptoms of the disease don’t usually appear until the cancer is at an advanced stage, it is a leading cause of death compared to other cancers. In the United States, pancreatic cancer is the 4th leading cause of death with approximately 46,420 Americans diagnosed with the disease and over 39,590 dying from it (Source: American Cancer Society: Cancer Facts & Figures 2014).
What are some signs of Pancreatic Cancer? What are the morbidity and mortality rates?
Signs of pancreatic cancer include pain in the upper abdomen that can penetrate all the way to the back of the neck, blood clots, weight loss, depression, loss of appetite, or jaundice (Mayoclinic). There are 4 stages of pancreatic cancer, usually indicated with Roman Numerals (I-IV); the smallest number indicates the earliest stage of the cancer and the less it has spread. Pancreatic cancer has one of the highest mortality rates, with “94% of patients diagnosed dying within five years of diagnosis while only 6% surviving for longer than five years and 74% of patients dying within the first year of being diagnosed (American Cancer Society: Cancer Facts & Figu...
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edu/cgi-bin/text?lookup=plut.+alc.+8.1&vers= english;loeb&browse=1, December 1999). 5. What is the difference between a'smart' and a'smart'?
Pancreatic cancer has become a taboo topic that many people are afraid to speak out about. It looms over families like a dark cloud, and manages to destroy people in a scarily short amount of time.
The pancreas is composed of exocrine and endocrine tissues. The exocrine portion of the pancreas synthesizes and secretes pancreatic juices. The endocrine portion is composed of miniscule islands of cells, called the islets of Langerhans. These islets of Langerhans do not release their secretions into the pancreatic ducts. Instead, they release hormones into the blood stream, and these hormones in turn help control blood glucose levels (Function of the Pancreas). Beta cells of the islets of Langerhans secrete insulin, which
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Diabetes refers to a set of several different diseases. It is a serious health problem throughout the world and fourth leading cause of death by disease in the country. All types of diabetes result in too much sugar, or glucos in the blood. To understand why this happens it would helpful if we understand how the body usually works. When we eat, our body breaks down the food into simpler forms such as glucose. The glucose goes into the bloodstream, where it then travels to all the cells in your body. The cells use the glucose for energy. Insulin, a hormone made by the pancreas, helps move the glucose from bloodstream to the cells. The pathophysiology of diabetes mellitus further explains the concept on how this disease works. Pancreas plays an important role of the metabolism of glucose by means of secreting the hormones insulin and glucagon. These hormones where then secreted by Islets of Langerhans directly to the blood. Inadequate secretion of insulin results on impaired metabolism of glucose, carbohydrates, proteins and fats which then result to hyperglycemia and glycosuria. Hyperglycemia is the most frequently observed sign of diabetes and is considered the etiologic source of diabetic complications both in the body and in the eye. On the other hand, glucagon is the hormone that opposes the act of insulin. It is secreted when blood glucose levels fall.
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The pancreas is a large gland that is located in the upper abdomen that secretes digestive juices, and releases insulin and glucagon into the bloodstream. Pancreatitis is a medical term for inflammation of the pancreas. When the pancreas is inflamed, it can progress to swelling of the gland, and surrounding blood vessels, bleeding, infection, and damage to the gland. It occurs when digestives enzymes start digesting the pancreas itself. Pancreatitis has two types; acute or chronic and either type can be life-threatening and have some serious complications.
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The pancreas is one of the essential organs in the human body and belongs in the Digestive system. Out of all the internal organs, the pancreas is unique because the pancreas plays a role in both the endocrine gland and the exocrine gland. This means that the pancreas is a dual function gland in which is the reason why the pancreas is such a vital part of the digestive system. This research paper will talk about the anatomy, physiology, and the important functions the pancreas play to maintain homeostasis.
Pancreas – The pancreas is located deep in the abdomen. The function of the pancreas in the endocrine system is to produce two hormones called insulin and glucagon. These two hormones maintain balance (homeostasis) in the blood sugar. The insulin produced enables the glucose that is created from the breakdown of carbohydrates to be used in the cells as energy. Glucagon raises the glucose level in the blood.
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