Overview of pancreatic cancer prognosis and symptoms

planetcaravan | Feb 22, 2010 |

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In one year, 37,000 in the United States are receiving a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. And the diagnosis is difficult to make to begin with, as symptoms of pancreatic cancer don't show up unto the cancer has already started to spread beyond its primary location.

Therefore, it is not surprising that this type of cancer ranks number 4 in the cancer fatality rates. The symptoms can vary and it depends on what areas of the pancreas are being affected and to what extend. If the head of the pancreas is the most affected area, a patient tends to exhibits symptoms earlier. But if the cancer starts on the tail of the organ or elsewhere, the signs of the disease take longer to show up. Gastrointestinal symptoms include pain in the abdomen, nausea, bloating, steatorrhea and stools of pale color.

Other pancreatic cancer symptoms are weight loss, elevates blood sugar levels and fatigue. The prognosis of pancreatic cancer is rather poor. Yet, a cure is to be found, even thought better and more effective treatments are available nowadays. According to the American Cancer Society, the one-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer is 20%. And only 4% on newly diagnosed patients live longer than 5 years. Treatment options for pancreatic cancer include surgery, to be more specific, a procedure called resection or electrocautery. If the cancer can be caught early enough and has not yet spread to any nearby lymph nodes, the chances of a longer survival are much better.

Another significant factor is the size of the primary tumor. The smaller the tumor is, the easier it can be removed. Chemotherapy and radiation have proven to be not effective, or at least to a very limited extend only. Doctors strongly advise patients who have been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, to work actively toward a healthy lifestyle and a healthy nutrition. Needless to point out that smoking is detrimental to any kind of cancer treatment.

If you experience any of the aforementioned symptoms, please consult with a doctor right away.