CANCER OF THE PANCREAS – PANCREATIC CANCER

Cancer of the pancreas is a deadly form of cancer that claims around sixty thousand lives in Europe every year. The gravity of this condition lies in the fact that it is not easy to detect in its early stages. The symptoms of pancreatic cancer often appear in the later stages of the disease, and it is possible for these symptoms to be mistaken as signs of other illnesses.

When they do manifest, the symptoms of pancreatic cancer are as follows :-

Constant or intermittent pain in the upper part of the abdomen that radiates to the middle or upper back. It usually feels worse after eating or when lying down.
Inexplicable weight loss and loss of appetite, brought about by the malignant cells stealing nutrients from the healthy cells of the body.
Jaundice or the yellowing of the skin as well as the whites of the eyes. Passing dark brown urine and whitish stool are also indicators of jaundice.
Excessive itching due to accumulation of bile acids in the skin.
Vomiting and nausea, caused by timorous cells blocking the digestive tract.

There are three identified types of pancreatic cancer :-

The first and most common type is called adenocarcinoma. This type of pancreatic cancer begins in the acinar cells of the pancreas, the cells responsible for producing digestive enzyme.
The second type of pancreatic cancer starts developing in the islet cells; the tumours that form here are called endocrine tumours and lead over production of hormones in the body.
The third type of pancreatic cancer is called ampullary cancer, as it begins in the ampulla of Vater. The ampulla of Vater is where the pancreatic and bile ducts empty into the small intestine. The development of tumours in this location blocks the flow of bile and leads to jaundice. This type of cancer of the pancreas is the one that is easiest to identify.

Why do some people develop cancer of the pancreas? Cancer of the pancreas is largely hereditary, so the risk is greater for people who have close relatives who fell ill to pancreatic cancer. Lifestyle habits such as cigarette smoking and too much fat in the diet can also lead to this condition. People who are overweight, who are suffering from diabetes or who are constantly exposed to petroleum and similar chemical products are also at risk.

Because cancer of the pancreas is usually not diagnosed until it is already in its later stages, mostly because its symptoms do not show until then or are mistaken as signs of other illnesses, the condition is often fatal, with the life expectancy of the patient reduced to no longer than five years. All that doctors can generally do for a patient is to prevent the further spread of the disease to other parts of the body and to make the patient as comfortable as possible. Recovery from this condition is possible but these instances are rare and the key to recovering from cancer of the pancreas is its early detection.

It is possible for a physician to have misinterpreted the symptoms displayed by the patient. Failure to diagnose cancer of the pancreas expediently or correctly may be construed as medical negligence.

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