November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month
Importance of Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month
November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month
Importance of Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month
What is pancreatic cancer?
What is pancreatic cancer?
What are the locations of pancreatic cancer?
What are the symptoms of pancreatic cancer?
What are the risk factors of pancreatic cancer?
The risk factors for pancreatic cancer include:
⦿ Age: Pancreatic cancer is most common in people over the age of 65.
⦿ Smoking: Smoking is the leading risk factor for pancreatic cancer.
⦿ Obesity: People who are overweight or obese have an increased risk of pancreatic cancer.
⦿ Diabetes: People with diabetes have an increased risk of pancreatic cancer.
⦿ Family history: People with a family history of pancreatic cancer have an increased risk of developing the disease.
What are the Staging and Stages of Pancreatic Cancer?
Pancreas cancer is staged with the help of CECT Abdomen. The surgeon may ask for a CT Angiography to look for vascular involvement. In certain clinical scenarios, the surgeon may choose for PET-CT Scan which will scan entire body for tumour evidence. Blood CA 19-9 levels is a helpful marker in a non-jaundiced patient.
How is pancreatic cancer diagnosed?
⦿ Imaging tests, such as CT scans and MRI scans, to create pictures of the pancreas and other organs in the abdomen.
⦿ Biopsy: A biopsy is a procedure to remove a small sample of tissue from the pancreas for testing under a microscope.
What are the tests for the Pancreatic Cancer?
What are the treatment options for pancreatic cancer?
Surgery
Effective for localized cancer, not spread to other organs.
Chemotherapy
Uses drugs to kill cancer cells, used before or after surgery or as the primary treatment.
Radiation therapy
Kills cancer cells with high-energy rays, used sometimes before or after surgery or as the main treatment when the patient is unfit for an operation.
Targeted therapy
Targets specific molecules in cancer cell growth, often combined with chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Used in advanced disease.
Immunotherapy
For advanced pancreatic cancer.
How to reduce the risk of developing pancreatic cancer?
⦿ Quitting smoking
⦿ Maintaining a healthy weight
⦿ Eating a healthy diet
⦿ Exercising regularly