The pancreas is one of the most important organs in the body that’s why you should take care of it. Located in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen, this is responsible for regulating the blood sugar level in the body and the production of enzymes that are necessary in breaking down proteins. When there is damage to the pancreas, it will result in serious health conditions such as pancreatic cancer. Here are some important information that you should know about pancreatic cancer symptoms and the treatments for this disease as well as the importance of knowing diabetes disease.
Pancreatic cancer happens when there is abnormal cell growth in the pancreas called malignant neoplasm. There are two categories of pancreatic cancer – exocrine pancreas cancers for the part that produces the enzymes and endocrine pancreas cancers for the part that produces the insulin. In most cases, the causes of the cancer are tumors that are often located at the exocrine pancreas. Globally, pancreatic cancer is the fourth common cause of death among cancer patients. Those who have this disease usually have a five-year survival but this depends on the stage of the disease and the treatments that have been given.
Pancreatic cancer symptoms depend on the size, the type and the location of the tumor. During the early stages of the disease, pancreatic cancer symptoms are rarely present. Symptoms will start to appear as the tumor grows, leading to abdominal pain that radiates to the back. Because the tumor is pressing on the intestines, it will lead to nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite. These will eventually lead to weight loss. Jaundice or the yellow color of the skin and eyes results when the common bile duct is obstructed because of the tumor. This is often accompanied by pale-colored stool, darkening of the urine and itching.
