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