| Â | | | | ability to control their growth. They |
| Pancreatic cancer is the fourth most | | | | grow too rapidly and without any order. |
| common cancer in men and the fifth most | | | | Too much tissue is made, and tumors are |
| common in women in the U.S. It occurs | | | | formed. Tumors can be benign or |
| nearly twice as often in men as women, | | | | malignant. |
| but rarely develops before age 50. It is | | | | Causes of Pancreatic Cancer |
| two to three times more common in heavy | | | | Cancer is caused by uncontrolled growth |
| smokers than in non-smokers. People who | | | | of abnormal cells. When these cells grow |
| have chronic pancreatitis are at a | | | | and form a mass it is called a tumour. |
| higher risk of developing pancreatic | | | | When pancreatic cancer cells break away |
| cancer. Pancreatic cancer is not | | | | and enter the bloodstream or lymphatic |
| contagious. | | | | system they can spread the cancer. The |
| Little is known about the causes of | | | | spread of cancer is called metastasis; |
| pancreatic cancer. Cigarette smoking is | | | | places where the cancer has spread are |
| the most consistently reported risk | | | | called metastases. The reason for the |
| factor for the development of the tumor, | | | | development of cancer cells in the |
| with the disease being two to three | | | | pancreas is not known, but research has |
| times more common in heavy smokers than | | | | shown that people with certain risk |
| in non-smokers. There is no convincing | | | | factors are more likely to develop |
| evidence linking pancreatic cancer to | | | | pancreatic cancer than others. |
| alcohol abuse, the presence of | | | | For locally advanced pancreatic cancer |
| gallstones, or coffee consumption. | | | | that cannot be surgically removed |
| Approximately 95 percent of malignant | | | | safely, a combination of chemotherapy |
| pancreatic tumors arise in the glandular | | | | and radiation therapy or chemotherapy |
| ducts of the organ which normally convey | | | | alone may be offered. This treatment |
| enzymes needed for digestion to the | | | | remains controversial, and various |
| small bowel; such glandular cancers are | | | | centers have different recommendations |
| known as adenocarcinomas and represent | | | | based on a number of factors such as |
| what is generally known as "pancreatic | | | | size of the disease and symptoms. |
| cancer". | | | | Chemotherapy is the cornerstone of |
| In many cases, pancreatic cancer | | | | treatment of pancreatic cancer that is |
| symptoms do not occur until the advanced | | | | locally advanced or metastatic. The |
| stages. When pancreatic cancer symptoms | | | | chemotherapy agent most commonly used in |
| do occur, they are often ignored because | | | | this setting is gemcitabine |
| they are so vague and nonspecific. The | | | | Medications |
| first pancreatic cancer symptoms are | | | | Gemcitabine (Gemzar): Gemcitabine is |
| usually pain in the abdomen and weight | | | | given intravenously once a week for 7 |
| loss. Additional pancreatic cancer | | | | weeks (or until toxicity limits |
| symptoms to look for include jaundice, | | | | treatment), and then no treatment is |
| fatigue, dizziness, weakness, diarrhea, | | | | given for 1 week. Then, cycles are |
| chills, and muscle spasms. | | | | resumed of gemcitabine once each week |
| Healthy cells that make up the body's | | | | for 3 weeks in a row followed by 1 week |
| tissues grow, divide, and replace | | | | off. This drug has direct effects on the |
| themselves in an orderly way. This | | | | cancer cells and is usually given alone |
| process keeps the body in good repair. | | | | for the treatment of metastatic |
| Sometimes, however, some cells lose the | | | | pancreatic cancer. |