What
is Pancreatic Cancer The pancreas lies between the stomach, liver and the intestine. It is made of 2 types of glands - one produces insulin and the other hormones, the other produces enzymes that help in digestion of food. The glands that produce enzymes drain into ducts, which in turn, drain into the small intestine. The cells of the enzyme producing glands can become cancerous.
How common is Pancreatic Cancer
Although pancreatic cancer is common in the United States and accounts for the fourth most common cause of cancer death there, pancreatic cancer is not as common here in Singapore.
The incidence of pancreatic cancer increases with age. The vast majority of patients are aged between 50 and 80 years.
The only known risk factor is smoking. Alcohol and fat in diet have been implicated but not proven to cause pancreatic cancer.
Symptoms and Signs of Pancreatic Cancer
The symptoms of pancreatic cancer are generally vague and non-specific. Weight loss is one of the earliest symptoms. Abdominal pain or jaundice (yellowness of the whites of the eyes) is not uncommon late in the disease.
If pancreatic cancer was suspected, the initial diagnostic test would be a CT or computerised scan of the abdomen. It is able to detect any pancreatic mass greater than 2cm, 95% of the time. Smaller tumours are more difficult to detect.
When a fiberoptic scope is used to look into the stomach and small intestine where the ducts of the pancreas drain, the procedure is called an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreaticography (ERCP). X-ray dye is injected into the ducts of the pancreas and x-rays taken of the pancreas. Irregularities of the pancreatic ducts can then be seen. Small pieces of tissue can also be biopsied during this procedure. If the ducts are blocked, a small plastic tube, called a stent, can be placed during this same procedure to bypass the block. Potential complications of this procedure include infection of the pancreas and perforation of the small intestine. A stent that is placed will need to be changed every 3 to 4 months because the stent can be blocked by normal secretions from the pancreas.