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Pancreatic cancer is among the most deadly forms of cancer globally, with one of the lowest survival rates. In 2015, pancreatic cancers of all types resulted in 411,600 deaths globally. Pancreatic cancer is the fifth-most-common cause of death from cancer in the United Kingdom, and the third most-common in the United States.
I tumori del pancreas (o neoplasie del pancreas) si verificano in seguito alla moltiplicazione fuori controllo delle cellule del pancreas, un organo ghiandolare posto dietro lo stomaco, cellule che vanno a formare una massa. Queste cellule tumorali possiedono la capacità di diffondersi in altre parti dell' organismo.
- Overview
- Symptoms
- Causes
- Risk factors
- Complications
- Prevention
What is pancreatic cancer? A Mayo Clinic expert explains
Learn more about pancreatic cancer from Mayo Clinic surgical oncologist Chee-Chee Stucky, M.D.
Hi. I'm Dr. Chee-Chee Stucky, a surgical oncologist at Mayo Clinic. In this video, we'll cover the basics of pancreatic cancer: What is it? Who gets it? What are the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment? Whether you're looking for answers for yourself or someone you love, we're here to give you the best information available. Understanding pancreatic cancer starts with understanding the pancreas. This small, fish-shaped organ sits behind the stomach, producing enzymes that aid digestion and hormones that regulate blood sugar. Pancreatic cancer typically starts in the ducts of the pancreas. Small changes in the cellular DNA result in uncontrolled multiplication and accumulation of cells in clusters called tumors. If untreated, these cancer cells can spread outside of the pancreas to other parts of the body.
Who gets it?
While anyone can get pancreatic cancer, there are certain risk factors to be aware of. Most pancreatic cancer is diagnosed after age 65. Smoking, diabetes, chronic pancreatitis or inflammation of the pancreas, family history of pancreatic cancer, and certain genetic syndromes are all known risk factors. Carrying extra weight that is unhealthy for your body may also be a contributing factor. New research has found that the specific combination of smoking, diabetes and poor diet increases the risk of pancreatic cancer the most beyond any one factor alone.
What are the symptoms?
Pancreatic cancer often doesn't cause symptoms until the disease is advanced. When they happen, signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer may include:
•Belly pain that spreads to the sides or back.
•Loss of appetite.
•Weight loss.
•Yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes, called jaundice.
•Light-colored or floating stools.
Understanding the pancreas
The pancreas is about 6 inches (15 centimeters) long and looks something like a pear lying on its side. It releases hormones, including insulin. These hormones help the body process the sugar in the foods you eat. The pancreas also makes digestive juices to help the body digest food and take in nutrients.
How pancreatic cancer forms
Pancreatic cancer happens when cells in the pancreas develop changes in their DNA. A cell's DNA holds the instructions that tell a cell what to do. In healthy cells, the instructions tell the cells to grow and multiply at a set rate. The cells die at a set time. In cancer cells, the changes give different instructions. The changes tell the cancer cells to make many more cells quickly. Cancer cells can keep living when healthy cells would die. This causes there to be too many cells. The cancer cells might form a mass called a tumor. The tumor can grow to invade and destroy healthy body tissue. In time, cancer cells can break away and spread to other parts of the body. Most pancreatic cancer begins in the cells that line the ducts of the pancreas. This type of cancer is called pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma or pancreatic exocrine cancer. Less often, cancer can form in the hormone-producing cells or the neuroendocrine cells of the pancreas. These types of cancer are called pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors or pancreatic endocrine cancer.
Factors that might raise the risk of pancreatic cancer include:
•Smoking.
•Type 2 diabetes.
•Chronic inflammation of the pancreas, called pancreatitis.
•Family history of DNA changes that can increase cancer risk. These include changes in the BRCA2 gene, Lynch syndrome and familial atypical multiple mole melanoma (FAMMM) syndrome.
•Family history of pancreatic cancer.
Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
Screening for people with a high risk of pancreatic cancer
Screening uses tests to look for signs of pancreatic cancer in people who don't have symptoms. It might be an option if you have a very high risk of pancreatic cancer. Your risk might be high if you have a strong family history of pancreatic cancer or if you have an inherited DNA change that increases the risk of cancer. Pancreatic cancer screening might involve imaging tests, such as MRI and ultrasound. These tests are generally repeated every year. The goal of screening is to find pancreatic cancer when it's small and most likely to be cured. Research is ongoing, so it's not yet clear whether screening can lower the risk of dying of pancreatic cancer. There are risks to screening. This includes the chance of finding something that requires surgery but later turns out to not be cancer. Talk about the benefits and risks of pancreatic cancer screening with your health care team. Together you can decide whether screening is right for you.
Genetic testing for cancer risk
If you have a family history of pancreatic cancer, discuss it with a health care professional. The health professional can review your family history and help you understand whether genetic testing might be right for you. Genetic testing can find DNA changes that run in families and increase the risk of cancer. If you're interested in genetic testing, you might be referred to a genetic counselor or other health care professional trained in genetics.
Ways to lower risk
You might reduce your risk of pancreatic cancer if you:
What Is Pancreatic Cancer? Pancreatic cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the pancreas. Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is the most common type of pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are a less common type and are discussed in Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors.
22 nov 2021 · According to the National Cancer Institute, pancreatic cancer accounts for 3.2% of all new cancer cases, but it causes nearly 8% of all cancer deaths. And the five-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer is just 10.8%. Here are five things everyone should know about this deadly cancer: Pancreatic cancer is aggressive and causes ...
5 mar 2024 · Pancreatic cancer is a type of cancer that forms in the tissues of the pancreas. Smoking and health history can affect the risk of pancreatic cancer. Signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer include jaundice, pain, and weight loss. Pancreatic cancer is difficult to diagnose early.
A pancreatic tumor is an abnormal growth in the pancreas. In adults, almost 90% are pancreatic cancer and a few are benign. Pancreatic tumors are rare in children. Classification is based on cellular differentiation (ductal, acinar, neuroendocrine, other) and gross appearance (intraductal, cystic, solid).
