There are two types of pancreatic tumors, exocrine tumors and endocrine tumors. Tumors in the pancreas tend to develop silently, causing few symptoms until the cancer is in advanced stages. Pancreatic cancer is equally common in men and women, but the majority of cases occur in people over 70 years of age.
SYMTOMS OF PANCREATIC CANCER
Symptoms of Pancreatic Cancer depend greatly on the size of the tumor and its location. These may include:
- Nausea and loss of appetite
- Abdominal pain that spreads to the back
- Yellowish eyes and darker urine
- Weight loss and fatigue
- Skin Itching
- Fever and shivering
TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR PANCREATIC CANCER
The 3 main types of treatment for pancreatic cancer are Surgery, Radiation Therapy, and Chemotherapy. Depending on the stage of the cancer, 2 or even all of these treatments may be combined.
Pancreatic cancer is best managed by surgery first if possible. Radiation therapy and Chemotherapy are given afterwards because studies have shown the survival time to be significantly increased compared with surgery alone. If the cancer is not resectable, then a combination of Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy is used.
Learn more about: Radiation Therapy for Pancreatic Cancer.