Pancreatic Cancer
Pancreatic cancer is a malignant neoplasm of the pancreas, sometimes called a "silent killer" because early pancreatic cancer often does not cause symptoms, and the later symptoms are usually non-specific and varied. Therefore, pancreatic cancer is often not diagnosed until it is advanced.
Common symptoms include
- Pain in the upper abdomen that typically radiates to the back and is relieved by leaning forward (seen in carcinoma of the body or tail of the pancreas);
- Loss of appetite (anorexia), and/or nausea and vomiting, Significant weight loss;
- Painless jaundice (yellow skin/eyes, dark urine) when a cancer of the head of the pancreas obstructs the common bile duct as it runs through the pancreas. This may also cause pale-colored stool and steatorrhea.
CT scan of the abdomen is often ordered to evaluate the above symptoms.
If there is a suspicion of pancreatic cancer, you may be referred to the Department of Gastroenterology, for EUS (endoscopic ultrasonography ) and/or ERCP (Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography) and consideration of a biopsy.
Other tests may also be ordered, including other blood tests, such as a CA 19-9 and other liver function tests.
What is CA 19-9?
Referral:
- Once a diagnosis of cancer has been confirmed, you will be referred to the department of surgery for further evaluation if cancer is at early stage.
- You may be referred to medical oncology, and/or radiation oncology for further evaluation of treatment approach.
Treatment:
- Early stage pancreatic cancer (Whipple Procedure) can be treated by surgery alone.
- Most patients may require Adjuvant Therapy after surgery using chemotherapy or chemotherapy and radiation in combination.
For advanced pancreatic cancer, chemotherapy may be considered for controlling symptoms and cancer progression, to possibly extending life expectancy and improving quality of life.
