Signs Of Pancreatic Cancer, Diagnosis, And Treatments

Signs of pancreatic cancer - Pancreatic cancer causes no symptoms in the beginning. Complaints only arise when the tumor has expanded considerably. As a result, pancreatic cancer is often only discovered late. There are often early signs, but they are sometimes very vague. The symptoms and complaints also vary because the tumor can sit in different places in the pancreas (head, body or tail).

The nature of the complaints depends on the location and size of the tumor and on disorders in organs affected by the tumor. The complaints usually arise only when the tumor has grown into another organ or into the nerves around the pancreas.

A tumor in or around the head of the pancreas is often detected earlier than a tumor further along in the pancreas due to previous complaints (especially jaundice ).



The following signs and symptoms may indicate pancreatic cancer:

• Ache
• Jaundice (icterus)
• Disturbed relief pattern
• Inexplicable weight loss
• Diabetes
• Water belly (ascites)
• Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis)

Pancreatic cancer diagnosis

In the hospital, various imaging tests are possible to diagnose the pancreas. Your doctor will discuss with you which examinations are needed. Below you will find an overview of studies.

• Ultrasound
• Endoscopic ultrasound
• CT or MRI scan
• PET scan
• ERCP research
• MRCP research
• Laboratory research
• Laparoscopy (viewing operation)

Pancreatic cancer treatment

Pancreatic cancer is an aggressive type of cancer that often only gives symptoms at a late stage. Upon discovery, the tumor has already spread to most patients or has grown too far to be removed with surgery.

Only a quarter of people with pancreatic cancer are eligible for curative or curative treatment. The remaining three-quarters of the people receive palliative treatment. That is a treatment aimed at inhibiting the disease and reducing complaints.

Curative treatment
A curative treatment is a treatment aimed at healing. This is only possible if the pancreatic cancer is detected at a very early stage. The goal of the treatment is to remove the tumor in the pancreas. Curative treatment always consists of surgery, sometimes in combination with chemotherapy.

If the pancreas tumor has not grown into close-lying tissues or organs and if there are no metastases, you may be eligible for surgery for the purpose of healing. This is called a curative operation. There are different types of curative operations for pancreatic cancer. Your doctor will discuss with you the surgery for which you are eligible. And what the pros and cons are, so that you can make a well-considered decision.

Pancreatic surgery is a drastic treatment. It is therefore important that your condition is as good as possible. If you can not eat enough, you will be given tube feeding before surgery to prevent your nutritional status from deteriorating. This is liquid food that comes through a tube (probe) in the stomach or in the intestines.

If during the operation the surgeon still comes to the conclusion that a curative procedure is not possible, you usually get a palliative operation. The operation then serves to alleviate the pain or to prevent obstruction of the food and/or bile flow.



The most common curative operations in pancreatic cancer are:

• Pancreatic head resection (Whipple operation)
• Pancreatic resection
• Total pancreas resection
• Lymph node dissection

Other treatment methods

• Chemotherapy

Palliative treatment
If pancreatic cancer is only discovered at a late stage, healing is often no longer possible. You will then receive a palliative treatment. This is a treatment with the aim to slow down the disease and reduce your symptoms. Your doctor will discuss with you which palliative treatments you are eligible for.

• Chemotherapy
• Irradiation (radiotherapy)
• Close bile ducts
• Block the intestine or stomach
• Treatment of ascites
• Pain management

*Image source : Wikimedia Commons

References :

1. National Cancer Institute
2. Maag Lever Darm Stichting
3. American Cancer Society