Cancer of the pancreas is the fifth most common cause of death in both men and women. Pancreatic cancer affects approximately 33,730 Americans each year. The pancreas is a gland found behind the stomach that is shaped a little like a fish. The pancreas is around six inches long and less than two inches wide, and it spans across the abdomen. The pancreas makes enzymes to break down food. Jaundice, a condition marked by the yellowing of the skin and eyes commonly occurs in people pancreatic cancer.
Abdominal pain is common symptom of pancreatic cancer. It usually occurs on the upper abdomen and may even radiate to the back. Losing weight without trying may welcomed by many, but it can indicate something is wrong. Unintended weight loss is a common symptom of pancreatic cancer. Vague symptom of pancreatic cancer that is vomiting and nausea. Non-specific symptoms like nausea often result in a delay in a diagnosis. Appetite loss is a symptom of hundreds of diseases and conditions, including pancreatic cancer.
It can signal something severe or even be related to something as small as a stomach virus. Itchy skin is a less common symptom of pancreatic cancer. unfortunately itchy skin it is often misdiagnosed as a dermatological condition. In some cases pancreatic cancer may impede the pancreas’ ability to produce insulin, resulting in diabetes. Urine may become much darker, while stools loser their brown color. “Symptoms vary depending upon where the pancreatic cancer is located.
Doctors may perform the following test to help to decide how to treat the cancer health history, physical exam, blood, stool,and urine tests, biopsy, ultra sound, CT scan, MRI, angiogram,Endoscopic retrograde, and Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography. Pancreatic cancer is treated in several ways surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and palliative care. Surgery is done to attempt to cure pancreatic cancer, but it may also be done to lessen or prevent symptoms. Chemotherapy and radiation are often given together, with or without surgery, to slow pancreatic cancer’s growth.
Palliative care tries to decrease the discomfort for people whose pancreatic cancer cannot be cured. When someone has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, chances are they are going to want to know the overall pancreatic cancer prognosis. Sadly, the statistics are not very high, especially compared to other cancers. In the United States around 33,730 people get pancreatic cancer. Of this number and astounding 32,300 will die from the cancer.
The 1,430 that survive the pancreatic cancer prognosis for life expectancy past five years ranges from 2. to only 5. 6 percent. The worst pancreatic cancer prognosis was for black men, white men and women have pancreatic cancer prognosis around or a little bit higher than 4 percent. Black women have the best pancreatic cancer prognosis at 5. 6 percent. When the cancer is localized to the pancreas the survival rate for these people is 16. 4 percent. Statistically if you have pancreatic cancer you are more likely to die, then with other cancers. In conclusion the average prognosis is not good.