The pancreas is an organ located in the abdomen. It is surrounded by the stomach, intestines, liver, and other organs.

Cancer of the pancreas is difficult to detect early. Often, tumors in the pancreas do not cause noticeable symptoms. You should consult a doctor if you have any of the following symptoms:

• Jaundice: yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes, and darkening of the urine. In the case of pancreatic cancer, this is caused by a tumor blocking the common bile duct so that bile cannot pass into the intestines. If the tumor develops in the head of the pancreas (see diagram in What Is), near the common bile duct, it may cause jaundice in early stages of the disease. However, if the tumor develops in the body or tail of the pancreas, the common bile duct will not be compressed until the cancer has spread throughout the pancreas; at this point, cancer has usually spread to surrounding tissues as well. Jaundice is more commonly a symptom for other conditions, such hepatitis or obstruction of the common bile duct by a gallstone.

• Pain in the upper abdomen and back: The pain may become worse after the person eats or lies down.

• Nausea

• Loss of appetite

• Weight loss

• Weakness

Islet cell cancer, which is uncommon, can cause the pancreas to make too much insulin or other hormones. When this happens, the person may feel weak or dizzy and may have chills, muscle spasms, or diarrhea.

To find the cause of a person's symptoms, the doctor performs a physical exam and asks about the person's medical history. In addition to checking general signs of health, the doctor may perform blood, urine, and stool tests. Doctors may perform several tests that involve taking pictures of the pancreas and surrounding tissues and organs to help with diagnosis. These are called imaging tests. Imaging tests include

• Upper GI series: sometimes called a barium swallow. The patient drinks a barium solution, which shows an outline of the digestive organs when x-rayed.

• CT scanning: the use of an x-ray machine linked with a computer. The x-ray machine is shaped like a doughnut with a large hole. The patient lies on a bed that passes through the hole, and the machine moves along the patient's body, taking many x-rays. The computer puts the x-rays together to produce detailed pictures.

• MRI: the use of a powerful magnet linked to a computer. The MRI machine is very large, with space for the patient to lie in a tunnel inside the magnet. The machine measures the body's response to the magnetic field, and the computer uses this information to make detailed pictures of areas inside the body.

• Ultrasonography: the use of high-frequency sound waves that cannot be heard by humans. An instrument sends sound waves into the patient's abdomen. Healthy tissues and tumors produce different echoes that are recorded as a picture called a sonogram.

• ERCP: a method for taking x-rays of the common bile duct and pancreatic ducts. The doctor passes a long, flexible tube (endoscope) down the throat, through the stomach, and into the small intestine. The doctor then injects dye into the ducts and takes x-rays.

• PTC: a thin needle is put into the liver through the skin on the right side of the abdomen. Dye is injected into the bile ducts in the liver so blockages in the ducts can be seen on x-rays.

• Angiography: x-rays of blood vessels taken after the injection of dye that makes the blood vessels show up on the x-rays. Blood vessels may be noticeably displaced or distorted by a tumor.

Risk factors are conditions that increase a person’s chance of getting a type of cancer. Risk factors vary depending on the type of cancer. Doctors have determined several risk factors for pancreatic cancer:

• Age: The risk of developing cancer of the pancreas increases after 50. At the time of diagnosis, most patients are between 60 and 80 years old.

• Gender: Men are about 30% more likely to develop pancreatic cancer of than women.

• Race: African Americans are more likely to develop cancer of the pancreas than are white Americans or Asian Americans. The impact of race is difficult to separate from certain lifestyle related risk factors such as diet. The pancreatic cancer risk of Africans and Asians is lower than that of African Americans and Asian Americans.

• Cigarette smoking: About 30% of pancreatic cancer cases are thought to result directly from cigarette smoking.

• Diet: A diet high in meats and fat increases pancreatic cancer risk. Fruits, vegetables, and dietary fiber appear to have a protective effect and reduce the risk of this cancer.

• Diabetes mellitus: Pancreatic cancer is more common in people with this disease. People who have diabetes develop pancreatic cancer about twice as often as those who do not have diabetes. The reason for this association is not known.

• Family History: Cancer of the pancreas seems to run in some families. An inherited tendency to develop this cancer may be a factor in about 5% to 10% of cases.

People with chronic pancreatitis may also have an increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer. Certain types of stomach surgery, as well as occupational (heavy) exposure to certain pesticides, dyes, and chemicals related to gasoline may increase the risk of developing cancer of the pancreas.

Doctors usually treat cancer of the pancreas with surgery, radiation therapy, and/or chemotherapy. Doctors may use one or several of these methods to fight the cancer most effectively.

Doctors may use surgery to remove part or all of the pancreas and/or nearby tissue. Surgery is sometimes done even if it is known that the cancer cannot be completely removed, in order to relieve symptoms often caused by a blockage in the duodenum or bile duct. The doctor may create a bypass to relieve symptoms caused by the blockage. Pain and fatigue usually accompany surgery, but to varying degrees depending on the patient. Pain can be controlled with medication, so patients should feel free to discuss it with their doctor or nurse. During recovery, a person’s diet and weight are checked carefully. A patient may be fed only liquids at first, adding food gradually, and receiving extra nourishment from an IV. If the entire pancreas is removed, and sometimes if just a portion is removed, the patient may not have enough pancreatic juices or hormones. This can cause digestive problems, and even diabetes. Doctors can suggest an appropriate diet and prescribe medicine to help relieve diarrhea or other problems such as pain, feelings of fullness, or cramping, and replace hormones that are no longer being produced.

Radiation therapy (also called radiotherapy) is the use of high-energy rays to damage cancer cells and stop them from growing and dividing. Like surgery, radiation therapy is local therapy, meaning the radiation can affect cancer cells only in the treated area. The radiation to treat pancreatic cancer comes from a machine that aims the rays from radioactive material at a specific area of the body. It is common to lose hair in the treated area and for the skin to become red, tender, and itchy; doctors instruct patients how to take care of the treated area. There may be permanent darkening or "bronzing" of the skin in the treated areas. During radiation therapy patients are likely to become very tired, especially in the later weeks of treatment. Radiation therapy to the pancreas and nearby tissues and organs may cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or problems with digestion. Usually, the doctor can suggest certain diet changes or medicine to treat or control these problems. In most cases, side effects go away when treatment is over.

The pancreas is an organ located in the abdomen. It is surrounded by the stomach, intestines, liver, and other organs. Over 95% of the cells in the pancreas form exocrine glands and ducts, so it makes sense that most pancreatic cancers occur in these cells. While the exocrine cells of the pancreas can form benign tumors (non-cancerous), malignant tumors (cancerous) are more common.

To find the cause of a person's symptoms, the doctor performs a physical exam and asks about the person's medical history. In addition to checking general signs of health, the doctor may perform blood, urine, and stool tests. Doctors may perform several tests that involve taking pictures of the pancreas and surrounding tissues and organs to help with diagnosis. These are called imaging tests. Imaging tests include Upper GI series, CT scanning, MRI, Ultrasonography, ERCP, PTC, Angiography.

It is hard to limit the effects of therapy so that only cancer cells are destroyed. Because treatment often damages healthy cells and tissues, it can cause unpleasant side effects.

Surgery usually causes pain and fatigue, but to varying degrees depending on the patient. Afterwards, a patient may not have enough pancreatic juices or hormones, this can cause digestive problems, and even diabetes. Prescribed medicine can help relieve diarrhea or other problems such as pain, feelings of fullness, or cramping, and replace hormones that are no longer being produced.

Radiation therapy may cause permanent darkening or "bronzing" of the skin in the treated areas. During radiation therapy patients are likely to become very tired, especially in the later weeks of treatment. Radiation therapy may cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or problems with digestion. In most cases, side effects go away when treatment is over.

As a result of chemotherapy, patients may have an increased chance of infection, bruise or bleed easily, have less energy (caused by affected blood cells), loose their hair (caused by affected hair root cells), and suffer from nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea, or mouth sores (caused by affected digestive tract cells).

Each cancer survivor’s recovery is different, and a person’s adjustment after cancer treatment depends on a number of factors. Pancreatic cancer can drastically affect dietary habits and can cause more serious conditions like diabetes. Unfortunately, pancreatic cancer is considered a "silent" disease, meaning that its symptoms are usually not felt until late stages of the disease. Behavioral scientists have found that taking advantage of a social support system, such as a cancer support group, can improve the quality of life in cancer patients and surviors. Maintain an open dialogue with your cancer care team to address your concerns.