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Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Common Symptoms of Pancreatic Cancer.(pancreatic cancer cures)

pancreatic cancer cures

Nobody wants to suspect that they have pancreatic cancer. And the reasons should be obvious. With an official pancreatic cancer diagnosis, a person is basically given a death sentence since the prognosis of the disease is not very good. Yet, if a person is experiencing the common symptoms of pancreatic cancer, they should still get tested for the disease.

By knowing for sure whether or not they are suffering with it, they can get the treatment they need that will:

1) relieve some of the symptoms

2) give them some chance that they can live longer. But in order to get checked out they will need to know what the common symptoms of pancreatic cancer are. They are provided in greater detail below.

Stomach Pain that May Spread to Other Areas

Abdominal pain is one of the most common symptoms of pancreatic cancer. It occurs because the tumors press up against the organs and nerves in your abdominal cavity. Yet, despite this sometimes the pain will spread to other areas of your body as it travels through nerve pathways in the abdominal region. The middle and upper back is an example. As far as how often the pain occurs, it can be chronic or once in a while. So, don't necessarily expect that in order to have pancreatic cancer, you must be in pain all the time.

Appetite Changes

As the pancreatic tumors take over your abdominal region, they will deprive healthy cells of vital nutrients. They may also suppress the stomach slightly. As a result you may experience changes in appetite. This could lead to weight loss, since a loss of appetite would naturally mean you're not eating as much. Unfortunately, many people may not suspect weight loss as one of the common symptoms of pancreatic cancer, especially if they are actually trying to lose weight. But if they experience any of the other symptoms described in this article, it definitely could be due to that disease.

Severe Itching

Of the common symptoms of pancreatic cancer, severe itching is one of the most unusual. It is caused by excessive bile accumulating in the skin.

Jaundice

When it comes to the common symptoms of pancreatic cancer, jaundice is one of the most signature. This occurs due the body's inability to dispose of bilirubin, which is a byproduct produced by worn-out blood cells. When the body functions normally, bilirubin is disposed of in bile. However, when a person has pancreatic cancer, bile flow gets blocked by the tumors. This results in yellowing of the skin, which is characteristic of jaundice.

Digestive Troubles

When a person has pancreatic cancer, enzymes that would normally be produced by the pancreas get halted. This is a problem since these enzymes help ensure a healthier digestion. As a result a pancreatic cancer sufferer may encounter digestive problems, especially if the foods they are consuming are high in fat. Such difficulties will also lead to additional unexplained weight loss as well as malnutrition.

Nausea

More advanced stages of pancreatic cancer may result in blockage of the digestive tract which could result in nausea.

You can learn more about pancreatic cancer treatment as well as the symptoms of pancreatic cancer on my website http://www.PancreaticCancerTreatment.net My website includes a whole range of articles focusing on the problems caused by pancreatic cancer, treatments and of course what you should do if you think you have pancreatic cancer.

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What is Pancreatic Cancer?.(pancreatic cancer cures)

pancreatic cancer cures

First, the good news - research is being done and scientists are learning more every day about the causes of pancreatic cancer. Progress IS being made, and research has already led to better treatment for the diasease, a better quality of life for patients, and a decrease in deaths from pancreatic cancer.

The pancreas is a little organ only about 6 inches long that is located between the stomach and the spine. It is responsible for producing insulin as well as other hormones. Additionally, it makes pancreatic juices containing enzymes that help in digesting food.

Most cases of cancer starts in the ducts that carry pancreatic juices. Cancer of the pancreas is also called carcinoma of the pancreas. The terms are used interchangeably.

*Note: There is a rare cases that start in the cells that make insulin and other hormones. Cancer that starts in these cells is called islet cell cancer.

There are, of course, certain risk factors that scientists say increase the chances of a person developing the disease. It is important to note, however, that many people with all of the risk factors do not get pancreatic cancer and that people who have none of the risk factors do get it.

The risk factors that scientists have identified are:

1. Smoking: Smoking increases the risk of developing all kinds of cancer, according to scientists.

2. Age: Most cases if this type of cancer are diagnosed in patients over the age of 60.

3. Race: African Americans have a greater risk of developing the diasease than other ethnic groups.

4. Sex: Males more often develop pancreatic cancer than females.

5. Family History: If there is a history of pancreatic cancer in the family, there is a greater risk for a patient to develop it.

Milos Pesic is a respected surgeon who specializes in treating all forms of cancer and runs a comprehensive Cancer Treatment web site. For more articles and resources on cancer symptoms and treatments, breast cancer, skin cancer, lung cancer, prostate and colon cancer and much more, visit his site at:

=> http://cancer.need-to-know.net/

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Pancreatic Cancer.(pancreatic cancer cures)

pancreatic cancer cures

Pancreas is responsible for producing insulin which regulates the sugar level in the body. All those who know what diabetes is would know the importance of insulin in body (and hence the importance of pancreas). Pancreas also produces pancreatic juice which helps in digestion of food. When abnormal growth of cells (malignant cells) occurs in the pancreas, it is called pancreatic cancer. Like other types of cancer, pancreatic cancer too is life threatening.

Cause of pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer is again one of those that happen to older people (generally those above the age of 60). Chronic pancreatitis, which is caused by consumption of large amounts of alcohol, can act as a predecessor of pancreatic cancer. Some people tend to associate pancreatic cancer to genes and family history but there doesn’t seem any concrete evidence to suggest one or the other. Generally speaking, pancreatic cancer doesn’t seem to have a relation to family history.

Symptoms and diagnosis of pancreatic cancer

Again, none of the symptoms of pancreatic cancer are such so as to give confirmatory indications of pancreatic cancer. Pain in the abdomen, tiredness and loss of appetite are said to be symptoms of pancreatic cancer but these can really be caused by so many other things that it might not even occur to you that this could be caused by pancreatic cancer. However, if you are skeptical and want to make sure that everything is ok, you can always consult a qualified doctor to vet out your fears. Jaundice is another symptom of pancreatic cancer but this too can be caused by other things. So, really, it comes to proper tests and diagnosis to detect pancreatic cancer. The doctors would generally go for a urine test (for bile) and a blood test as the first screening tests for pancreatic cancer. In case these tests suggest pancreatic cancer, there could be need for x-rays and other tests (as deemed fit by the doctor).

Treatment of pancreatic cancer

As is the case with any type of cancer, the chances of survival with pancreatic cancer is governed by how early you are able to catch the symptoms and diagnose pancreatic cancer. The treatment for pancreatic cancer is dependent on the size of the cancer, the stage of cancer and your general health. A major consideration is the size of the cancer and whether it has spread around or is localized. For pancreatic cancer too, the best treatment is removal of the cancer through surgical procedure (and it’s a major surgery). Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are other ways of treating pancreatic cancer.

Warren and Karen have been involved in the internet for a number of years and run several websites. They are most interested in providing opportunities for people to connect with information relating to business, health and creativity. Check out their Pancreatic Cancer blog for more information.

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