In this article I detail what Pancreatic Cancer is, what the risk factors for Pancreatic are, what are the causes of Pancreatic Cancer, what are the treatments for Pancreatic Cancer and what are the current management strategies for Pancreatic Cancer.

 

What is it?

Pancreatic Cancer begins in the tissues of your pancreas — an organ in your abdomen that lies horizontally behind the lower part of your stomach. Your pancreas secretes enzymes that aid digestion and hormones that help regulate the metabolism of sugars.

Pancreatic Cancer often has a poor prognosis, even when diagnosed early. Pancreatic Cancer typically spreads rapidly and is seldom detected in its early stages, which is a major reason why it's a leading cause of cancer death. Signs and symptoms may not appear until Pancreatic Cancer is quite advanced and surgical removal isn't possible.

How do I recognise it?

Signs and symptoms of Pancreatic Cancer often don't occur until the disease is advanced. When signs and symptoms do appear, they may include:

  • Upper abdominal pain that may radiate to your back
  • Yellowing of your skin and the whites of your eyes (jaundice)
  • Loss of appetite
  • Weight loss
  • Depression
  • Blood clots

Causes

It's not clear what causes Pancreatic Cancer.

How do you treat it?

Like any disease, even if there is no cure, there is almost always something you can do to manage it and take control. There are three main areas involved in the treatment of any disease:

For information on medicines and therapies relevant to Pancreatic Cancer, make an appointment at Lynch's Pharmacy, Broadale, Douglas, Cork on 021-4366923.

Learn all about the drugs used to treat Pancreatic Cancer and any complementary medicines or therapies proven to help. Equip yourself with the tools to manage the condition and not be managed by it.

How do you live with it?

Certain adjustments may be needed to get on with your life, and often, some simple tips and advice can go a long way to making these changes. 

When you come to a Lynch's Pharmacy Clinic, we give you all the necessary information available to make your life more manageable and allow you to better live with your condition.

References

Pancreatic Cancer- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pancreatic_cancer

Pancreatic Cancer, a comprehensive review                                                                                                                              http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/pancreatic-cancer/DS00357

http://www.patient.co.uk/health/Cancer-of-the-Pancreas.htm