What is pancreatic cancer

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Previous NCI Directors. NCI Frederick. Advisory Boards and Review Groups. NCI Congressional Justification. Current Congress. Committees of Interest. Legislative Resources. Recent Public Laws. Search Search. Pancreatic Cancer. Pancreatic Cancer Treatment. Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors Treatment. Childhood Pancreatic Cancer Treatment. Key Points Pancreatic cancer is a disease in which malignant cancer cells form 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. Tests that examine the pancreas are used to diagnose and stage pancreatic cancer. Certain factors affect prognosis chance of recovery and treatment options. To make juices that help digest break down food.

To make hormones , such as insulin and glucagon , that help control blood sugar levels. Both of these hormones help the body use and store the energy it gets from food. Being very overweight. Having a personal history of diabetes or chronic pancreatitis. Having a family history of pancreatic cancer or pancreatitis.

Having certain hereditary conditions , such as: Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 MEN1 syndrome. Peutz-Jeghers syndrome. Hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome. Jaundice yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes. Light-colored stools. Dark urine. Pain in the upper or middle abdomen and back. Weight loss for no known reason. Loss of appetite. Feeling very tired. The signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer, when present, are like the signs and symptoms of many other illnesses.

The pancreas is hidden behind other organs such as the stomach, small intestine , liver , gallbladder , spleen , and bile ducts. Physical exam and health history : An exam of the body to check general signs of health, including checking for signs of disease, such as lumps or anything else that seems unusual. Blood chemistry studies : A procedure in which a blood sample is checked to measure the amounts of certain substances, such as bilirubin , released into the blood by organs and tissues in the body.

An unusual higher or lower than normal amount of a substance can be a sign of disease. Tumor marker test : A procedure in which a sample of blood, urine , or tissue is checked to measure the amounts of certain substances, such as CA , and carcinoembryonic antigen CEA , made by organs, tissues, or tumor cells in the body.

Certain substances are linked to specific types of cancer when found in increased levels in the body. These are called tumor markers. MRI magnetic resonance imaging : A procedure that uses a magnet, radio waves , and a computer to make a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body. This procedure is also called nuclear magnetic resonance imaging NMRI. CT scan CAT scan : A procedure that makes a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body, taken from different angles.

The pictures are made by a computer linked to an x-ray machine. A dye may be injected into a vein or swallowed to help the organs or tissues show up more clearly. This procedure is also called computed tomography, computerized tomography, or computerized axial tomography.

A spiral or helical CT scan makes a series of very detailed pictures of areas inside the body using an x-ray machine that scans the body in a spiral path. PET scan positron emission tomography scan : A procedure to find malignant tumor cells in the body.

A small amount of radioactive glucose sugar is injected into a vein. The PET scanner rotates around the body and makes a picture of where glucose is being used in the body. Malignant tumor cells show up brighter in the picture because they are more active and take up more glucose than normal cells do.

Abdominal ultrasound : An ultrasound exam used to make pictures of the inside of the abdomen. These treatments may include:. The five-year survival rate for stage 3 pancreatic cancer is 3 to 12 percent. The majority of people with this stage of the cancer will have a recurrence. Stage 2 pancreatic cancer is cancer that remains in the pancreas and may have spread to a few nearby lymph nodes. It has not spread to nearby tissues or blood vessels, and it has not spread to sites elsewhere in the body.

Pancreatic cancer is difficult to detect in the early stages, including stage 2. If you do have symptoms at this early stage, you may experience:. Your doctor may use a combination of these approaches to help shrink the tumor and prevent possible metastases. The five-year survival rate for people with stage 2 pancreatic cancer is around 30 percent.

Treatment for pancreatic cancer depends on the stage of cancer. It has two goals: to kill cancerous cells and to prevent the spread of the disease. Weight loss, bowel obstruction, abdominal pain, and liver failure are among the most common complications during pancreatic cancer treatment. The decision to use surgery to treat pancreatic cancer comes down to two things: the location of the cancer and the stage of the cancer. Surgery can remove all or some portions of the pancreas.

This can eliminate the original tumor, but it will not remove cancer that has spread to other portions of the body. Surgery may not be suitable for people with advanced stage pancreatic cancer for that reason. Other treatment options must be explored once the cancer spreads outside of the pancreas.

Radiation therapy uses X-rays and other high-energy beams to kill the cancer cells. In some cases, your doctor might combine other treatments with chemotherapy , which uses cancer-killing drugs to help prevent future growth of cancer cells.

This type of cancer treatment uses drugs or other measures to specifically target cancer cells and work to destroy them. These drugs are designed not to harm healthy or normal cells. The survival rates for pancreatic cancer have been improving in recent decades. Research and new treatments are expanding the average five-year survival rate for people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

However, the disease is still considered difficult to cure. Because pancreatic cancer typically does not cause symptoms until the cancer is in advanced stages, the likelihood the cancer has spread, or metastasized, is high. That make it hard to treat or eliminate the cancer. Combining alternative measures with traditional medical treatments may help to improve your quality of life. Yoga, meditation, and light exercise might promote a sense of well-being and make you feel better during treatment.

Early diagnosis significantly increases the chances of recovery. To make a diagnosis, your doctor will review your symptoms and medical history. They may order one or more tests to check for pancreatic cancer, such as:. The five-year survival rate for all stages of pancreatic cancer is 9 percent. You may also consider:. Two types of surgery, Whipple procedure or a pancreatectomy , can remove a portion or all of the pancreas. The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice.

Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health. Pancreatic Cancer. See, Play and Learn Images. Resources Reference Desk Find an Expert. For You Children Patient Handouts. Some risk factors for developing pancreatic cancer include Smoking Long-term diabetes Chronic pancreatitis Certain hereditary disorders Pancreatic cancer is hard to catch early.

Start Here. The dye enters the ducts through a small hollow tube catheter passed through the endoscope. Pancreatic cancer that blocks the liver's bile duct can cause jaundice. Signs include yellow skin and eyes, dark-colored urine, and pale-colored stools. Jaundice usually occurs without abdominal pain. Your doctor may recommend that a plastic or metal tube stent be placed inside the bile duct to hold it open. This is done with the help of a procedure called endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography ERCP.

During ERCP an endoscope is passed down your throat, through your stomach and into the upper part of your small intestine. A dye is then injected into the pancreatic and bile ducts through a small hollow tube catheter that's passed through the endoscope.

Finally, images are taken of the ducts. A growing tumor may press on nerves in your abdomen, causing pain that can become severe. Pain medications can help you feel more comfortable. Treatments, such as radiation and chemotherapy, might help slow tumor growth and provide some pain relief. In severe cases, your doctor might recommend a procedure to inject alcohol into the nerves that control pain in your abdomen celiac plexus block.

This procedure stops the nerves from sending pain signals to your brain. Bowel obstruction. Pancreatic cancer that grows into or presses on the first part of the small intestine duodenum can block the flow of digested food from your stomach into your intestines. Your doctor may recommend that a tube stent be placed in your small intestine to hold it open. In some situations, it might help to have surgery to place a temporary feeding tube or to attach your stomach to a lower point in your intestines that isn't blocked by cancer.

Consider meeting with a genetic counselor if you have a family history of pancreatic cancer. He or she can review your family health history with you and determine whether you might benefit from a genetic test to understand your risk of pancreatic cancer or other cancers. Pancreatic cancer care at Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products.

Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview The pancreas in the digestive system Open pop-up dialog box Close.

The pancreas in the digestive system The pancreas is a long, flat gland that lies horizontally behind your stomach. Pancreatic cancer Open pop-up dialog box Close. Pancreatic cancer Pancreatic cancer is cancer that forms in the cells of the pancreas. Email address. First Name let us know your preferred name. Last Name.

Thank you for subscribing Your in-depth coping with cancer guide will be in your inbox shortly. Sorry something went wrong with your subscription Please, try again in a couple of minutes Retry. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography Open pop-up dialog box Close. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography ERCP uses a dye to highlight the bile ducts and pancreatic duct on X-ray images.

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