Pancreatic cancer is a type of cancer that affects the pancreas.
It is a malignant neoplasm of the pancreas.
This type of cancer is usually diagnosed in the advanced stages because the patient does not normally show any symptoms in the early stages.
When the patient eventually shows the signs, the symptoms are usually varied and non-specific.
Some of the symptoms of this type of this disease include pain in the upper abdomen that is usually relieved when the patient leans forward.
The other signs include loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting.
Other indicators of the disease include, weight loss and jaundice which is usually accompanied by dark urine.
Some of the risk factors of pancreatic cancer include, age especially those aged above 60.
Smoking, diets low in vegetables and fruits and consuming of red meat are other factors that increase the risk of cancer of the pancreas.
It is also said that the male gender is at a higher risk when it comes to this type of cancer.
Treatment depends on the stage of the cancer but normally the Whipple procedure involving the head of the pancreas is the most common treatment.
This surgical procedure is only performed when the cancer is localized and the patient is likely to survive major surgery.
Pancreatectomy is another surgical procedure that treats pancreatic cancer.
After the surgery, chemotherapy removes any remaining cancerous tissue.
It has been suggested that cancer of the pancreas may occasionally lead to diabetes.
This occurs in the case where the cancer hampers the production of insulin.