Causes Of Pancreatic Cancer

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The pancreas is a 6-inch long organ in the body, located behind the stomach in the abdomen. The pancreas contains exocrine and endocrine glands that produce pancreatic juices, insulin, and hormones. Pancreatic juices, also called pancreatic enzymes, are made by the exocrine glands and released into the intestines to help with digestion. Around 95% of the pancreas is exocrine glands and ducts. The endocrine part of the pancreas are arranged in small clusters of cells called islets of Langerhans. Islets of Langerhans release insulin and glucagon into the bloodstream and those two hormones manage the level of sugar in the blood. When these two hormones are not working like they are supposed to, it often results in diabetes. Cancer is a class of diseases that are caused mostly by out of control cell growth, and pancreatic cancer occurs when uncontrolled cell growth begins in the pancreas. Abnormal cells continue to divide in the pancreas to the point where the create tumors in the pancreas. Pancreatic cancer is catergorized depending on whether or not the exocrine or endocrine of the pancreas. There has to be an important distinction between the two broad types of pancreatic cancer because there are different risk factors, causes, symptoms, diagnostic tests, prognoses, and treatments. Tumors that are affecting the exocrine functions are the most common out of the pancreatic cancers. Some of the time tumors or cysts are benign (tumors that stay in one spot and demonstrates limited growth), they are called cystadenomas. But it is more likely to find malignant tumors and they are called adenocarcinomas. These account for about 95% of exocrine pancreatic cancers. Adenocarcinomas, according to the National Cancer Institute, are cancers ... ... middle of paper ... ...II pancreatic cancer are postoperative chemoradiation therapy and postoperative chemotherapy, in which after the patient recieves surgery and are followed up with 5-FU chemotherapy and radiation therapy (postoperative chemoradiation therapy) or gemcitabine or leucovorin (postoperative chemotherapy). STAGE III AND IV As I stated before, it is really no use in trying to treat stage III and IV pancreatic cancer because death is inevitable in these cases. However, in stage III, palliative surgery and stent placements to bypass clogged areas in the ducts or small intestine are used. Chemotherapy and chemoradiation are used also. In stage IV, palliative treatments like nerve blocks and stent placements are used to relieve pain. Clinical trials (a type of research study that tests how well new medical approaches work in people) are tried and tested on these patients also.

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