Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer is cancer of the pancreas, the organ that aids digestion in the small intestine and regulates blood sugar. There are two types of pancreatic cancer: exocrine tumors form in exocrine cells, which produce enzymes that break down food; endocrine tumors form in endocrine cells, which produce the hormones insulin and glucagon. Exocrine tumors are more common than endocrine tumors, and more frequently malignant. Around 44,000 new cases of pancreatic cancer are diagnosed each year in the United States; five-year survival rates vary depending on the stage at which the cancer is caught. Risk factors include smoking, obesity, and age. Early stages generally do not present symptoms but may include: yellowing of the eyes and skin, abdominal and back pain, dark urine, pale stool, weight loss, and fatigue. The stages of pancreatic cancer range from I to IV, depending on tumor size and spread. Treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, or a combination of these.