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Pancreatic Cancer

If you’re diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, it means cells in the tissue of your pancreas are growing uncontrollably. The pancreas is a pear-shaped gland in the abdomen behind the lower part of the stomach. It is both an exocrine gland (which produces hormones that help regulate and manage blood sugar) and an exocrine gland (which releases enzymes that aid in digestion).

Each year, more than 66,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with this type of cancer, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS).

Our cancer care team at North Kansas City Hospital Center provides comprehensive cancer care services. In addition to diagnostic testing and proactive treatment options, we offer resources to help with medical bills and emotional support. 

Types of Pancreatic Cancer

There are several types of pancreatic cancer, including exocrine tumors and endocrine tumors. 

Types of exocrine tumors include:

  • Adenocarcinoma, which begins in the cells lining the ducts of the pancreas and, according to ACS, accounts for about 95 percent of exocrine cancer tumors
  • Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN), which is a cancerous cyst in the pancreatic ducts 

Types of endocrine tumors include:

  • Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNET), which is also known as islet cell tumors, is a rare cancer that may affect the digestive system and blood sugar levels

Pancreatic Cancer Risk Factors

Having a risk factor for pancreatic cancer doesn’t mean you’ll develop the disease, but it does increase your chance. While you don’t have control over some risk factors, other lifestyle-related risk factors can be changed. Knowing your risk factors empowers you to adjust your lifestyle to lower your risk.

Risk factors for pancreatic cancer include:

  • Being overweight or obese
  • Certain inherited genetic changes
  • Chronic pancreatitis
  • Diabetes
  • Exposure to certain workplace chemicals
  • Gender, with men slightly more at risk than women
  • Older age, with most cancers developing in people over the age of 65
  • Race, with African Americans slightly more at risk
  • Tobacco use (according to ACS, researchers believe about 25 percent of pancreatic cancers are caused by cigarette smoking)

Signs and Symptoms of Pancreatic Cancer

Early-stage pancreatic cancer often doesn’t cause signs or symptoms. As the cancer grows and spreads, signs and symptoms become more noticeable.

Pancreatic cancer signs and symptoms include:

  • Abdominal or back pain
  • Blood clots
  • Dark urine
  • Enlarged liver or gallbladder
  • Fatigue
  • Feeling weak
  • Itchy skin
  • Jaundice (your eyes or skin may appear yellow)
  • Lack of appetite
  • Light or gray-colored stools that may be greasy
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • New-onset diabetes
  • Unintended weight loss

Diagnostic Tests for Pancreatic Cancer

If you or your doctor suspects pancreatic cancer, we’ll likely use several diagnostic tests to gather more information. 

Some of the tests we may recommend include:

  • Biopsy: A small piece of tissue is removed for diagnosis.
  • Blood tests: Blood tests help guide decisions on the management of the disease. Some individuals with pancreatic cancer develop proteins called tumor markers, which can be detected in the blood.
  • Imaging tests: A doctor may request imaging tests, which can be a CT scan, MRI, PET scan or ultrasound, to review suspicious areas, learn if cancer may have spread, help determine the treatment’s effectiveness and look for signs of cancer returning.
  • Genetic testing: A small number of people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer will need to undergo a type of genetic testing called germline testing. This testing helps a doctor choose which treatments will be most effective.
  • Molecular testing: This involves testing for specific genes and protein changes, which, if found, help guide targeted medication and treatment.

Pancreatic Cancer Treatment Options

Our doctors will discuss a range of pancreatic cancer treatment options to develop a personalized plan.

The pancreatic cancer treatments we may recommend include:

  • Chemotherapy, which uses medications to stop cancerous cells from growing or multiplying, may be the first line of treatment if surgery isn’t an option
  • Immunotherapy, which harnesses the body’s own immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells
  • Radiation therapy, which uses high doses of radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors, and may be used after surgery or if surgery isn’t an option 
  • Surgery, which will depend on the stage of cancer and if it has spread to other parts of the body
  • Targeted therapy, which targets proteins that control how cancer cells grow, divide and spread