sunlit_music | Pancreatic cancer - symptoms and treatment (Reply)

http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Pancreatic_cancer

Please read this. This may save your life. If not yours, then someone else's. Go long and see the other websites! It's definitely worth it! The information is simple and clear. Each page outlines symptoms and treatments for diseases and illnesses. You never know when you might need this. I know some of you might be thinking, "That could never happen to me". But you can never be too prepared.

There's a plethora of links to resources for seeking help we all need. There's links with tons of facts on exercises to help you cope with cancer, as well as pain management and foods that spiral our risk of getting cancer. There are foods that boost your immune system against cancer, too: http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Cancer_and_food?OpenDocument

I know pancreatic cancer is most common among older people. But young people can get it, too. This awful disease kills many people. Few people who have pancreatic cancer survive for more than 3-6 months. So if you have any of the symptoms below, see your doctor as soon as possible. This could make the difference between life and death.

Information from the above website:

Risks and causes
Pancreatic cancer is caused by damage to genes, but it is not known exactly why this damage happens. The risk of pancreatic cancer is greater for smokers.

Other risk factors include:

Age – it is more common in people over the age of 65 years
Inheriting a damaged gene
Diabetes – between 10 and 20 per cent of people with pancreatic cancer also have diabetes
Having had surgery to remove all or part of your stomach (gastrectomy).

Symptoms
The symptoms of pancreatic cancer are often vague and can appear similar to those caused by other, less serious conditions. This means that pancreatic cancer is often not diagnosed until it is quite advanced. Some of the common symptoms may include:

Persistent pain in the abdomen
Loss of appetite
Feeling sick (nausea)
Weight loss
Change in your bowel habits (diarrhea or constipation)
Severe back pain, in some cases.

If your bile duct is blocked, you may also have:

Yellowing of the skin and eyes and itchy skin (jaundice)
Dark urine
Pale faeces (bowel motions or poo).

Treatment
Treatment for pancreatic cancer depends on your age and general health, the size and location of the cancer and whether it has spread to other parts of the body. You may receive one type of treatment or a combination. Generally, options include:

Surgery – is used when the cancer has not spread beyond the pancreas. The cancer and part of the pancreas and part of the small bowel are removed in an operation called ‘Whipple’s resection’. Some of the bile ducts, gall bladder and stomach may also be removed. This is major surgery and you need to be fit enough to have it.
Radiotherapy – radiation may be used after surgery to destroy any cancer cells that may remain in the body. It may also be given as the main treatment when surgery is not possible, in combination with chemotherapy.
Chemotherapy – either tablets or injections of anti-cancer medications may be used after surgery. The drugs work by stopping cancer cells growing and reproducing. Chemotherapy may be given with surgery or alone to help control the symptoms of an advanced cancer.

When a cure isn’t possible
If the cancer has spread and it is not possible to cure it with surgery, your doctor may still recommend treatment that focuses on improving quality of life by relieving the symptoms (this is called palliative treatment). This can help make you feel better and may allow you to live longer.

Options may include:

Endoscopic treatment – the cancer may cause jaundice because it is blocking the bile duct. Endocscopic surgery relieves the pressure by inserting a metal or plastic tube into the bile duct to keep it open. Similar treatment can relieve a section of the small bowel if the cancer is pressing on it.
Surgery – a blockage in the small bowel can be bypassed by surgery that attaches a loop of bowel directly to the stomach.
Tablets – there may be a lack of pancreatic enzymes to properly digest fats, which results in diarrhoea. Tablets containing these enzymes can control this.
Pain-relieving drugs – oral medication is usually given to control pain, but pain-killing medication can be injected into the nerves of the back if the pain is particularly severe.

All treatments can have side effects. Your medical team will discuss these with you before you begin any type of treatment.

Where to get help