Cancer of the pancreas is diagnosed in about 30,000 people in the United States each year. Most cases occur in people over the age of 65; however, pancreatic cancer can occur in younger people, particularly those with a family history of the disease. Unfortunately, there are often no symptoms early on, making pancreatic cancer difficult to diagnose in its beginning stages.
The Pancreas
The pancreas is a gland that serves two basic functions: it produces secretions that help digest food, and it produces hormones (one of which is insulin) that regulate how food is stored and used. The pancreas is located in the abdomen and is surrounded by the stomach and intestines. It is about 6 inches long, wide at the head, and narrow at the tail. Most pancreatic cancers begin in the head of the pancreas, and specifically in the ducts that carry the digestive juices.
Types of Pancreatic Cancer
The bulk of pancreatic cells are devoted to producing digestive enzymes, and it is in those cells (the exocrine cells) that 95 percent of pancreatic cancers start. This overview focuses on cancers of the exocrine pancreas. About 5 percent of pancreatic cancers start in the cells that produce hormones (the endocrine cells, or islet cells).
As many as 20 distinct types of tumor are classified under the term "pancreatic cancer," each with varying responses to treatment. Most pancreatic tumors are adenocarcinomas (malignant tumors whose cells are arranged in a glandlike pattern). As a tumor grows in the pancreas, it may begin to invade nearby organs such as the stomach and intestines. Tumor cells may also break away and spread to the lymph nodes, the liver, and sometimes the nerves and blood vessels. At present, most pancreatic cancers have spread beyond the gland at diagnosis.
Generally, pancreatic tumors have the poorest responses to treatment among all the major cancers. However, coordinated care by a multidisciplinary team of clinician-researchers with experience and expertise in treating the cancer and its related symptoms can help ensure quality of life for longer periods than has been possible in the past.
