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Overview
The Pancreas is a gland about six inches long and located in the abdomen. It is surrounded by the stomach, small intestine, liver, spleen and gallbladder. Pancreas plays an important role in digestion and in regulating blood sugar level in the body. Pancreatic cancer begins in the tissues of pancreas.
Pancreatic Cancer occurs when cells in the pancreas develop mutations in their DNA. These mutations cause cells to grow rapidly and uncontrollably. This accumulation of cells forms a tumor. Most pancreatic cancer occurs in the cells that line the ducts of the pancreas. This type of cancer is called pancreatic adenocarcinoma or pancreatic exocrine cancer. If pancreatic cancer is not treated on time then it spreads to nearby organs and blood vessels.
Generally, Pancreatic Cancer is not detected at the early stage and it spreads rapidly to nearby organs. Dr Amit Chakraborty is a highly experienced, proficient and caring Cancer Surgeon. He has treated lots of complex Pancreatic Cancer cases successfully.
Symptoms of Pancreatic Cancer
Pancreatic cancer doesn’t show specific signs and symptoms at early stage but at the advanced stage of pancreatic cancer various symptoms include
- Pain in the upper abdomen that spreads to back
- Loss of appetite or unintended weight loss
- Depression
- New-onset diabetes
- Blood clots
- Fatigue
- Yellowing of skin and the whites of eyes (jaundice)
Causes of Pancreatic Cancer
Common causes or risk factors of pancreatic cancer include
- Chronic inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis)
- Diabetes
- Family history of genetic syndromes increasing cancer risk
- Family history of pancreatic cancer
- Smoking
- Obesity
- Older age
Diagnosis of Pancreatic Cancer
Early detection is always crucial in the complete cure of any cancer. Various diagnosis tests and procedures include:
- Blood tests: Blood test is used to detect specific proteins which make cancerous tumor.
- Imaging tests: Various imaging tests such as CT scans, MRI scans and PET scans are used to visualize internal organs.
- Biopsy: In Biopsy procedure, doctor obtains tissue sample from the pancreas and examines it under the microscope.
- Endoscopy: An endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) uses an ultrasound device to make images of pancreas from inside the abdomen.
Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer
Pancreatic Cancer treatment is mainly depending on the stage of cancer. Various Treatment option are:
- Surgery: Cancer Surgeon performs surgery as per the location of the cancerous tumor. Doctor performs Pancreaticoduodenectomy if cancer is located in the head of the pancreas. This is also known as Whipple procedure. Doctor also performs Distal Pancreatectomy to remove left side (body and tail) of the pancreas. Cancer surgeon can also remove spleen. In a Total Pancreatectomy surgery, doctor removes entire pancreas in case of complete damage due to cancerous cells. In the advanced stage of pancreatic cancer, a highly specialized and experienced surgeon performs surgery to remove and to reconstruct parts of blood vessels if tumor involves nearby blood vessels.
- Radiation Therapy: In Radiation therapy, high-powered energy beams such as X-rays and Protons are used to kill cancer cells or to shrink tumor. During radiation therapy, patient lie on a table while a machine moves around patient and directing radiation precisely on the body. In advanced stage of cancer, radiation therapy is used before or after the surgery to relieve pain. It’s often combined with chemotherapy treatments. If surgery is not an option then Cancer Surgeon performs combined chemotherapy and radiation therapy as a primary treatment.
- Chemotherapy: In Chemotherapy treatment, drugs are used to kill cancerous cells. Chemotherapy is often used after the surgery to kill any cancer cells that remained in the body. It can be used alone or combined with radiation therapy. Chemotherapy can be used before the surgery to shrink cancers. In advanced stage of cancer, chemotherapy is used to relieve pain and other symptoms.
Pancreatic Cancer is preventable by maintaining proper weight, avoiding smoking and eating healthy diet.
Today various advanced cancer treatments are available not only to control and but also to cure the cancer. Early detection plays an important role in the complete cure or control of Pancreatic Cancer. Dr Amit Cancer Care Clinic is a well equipped with modern medical equipments to treat all types and stages of cancer.
About Doctor
Dr. Amit Chakraborty
Cancer Surgeon
Dr. Amit Chakraborty is a Surgical Oncologist in Girgaon, Mumbai and has an experience of 15 years in this field. He is a well known cancer specialist with an expertise in diagnosing and treating head and neck cancer.
Patient Reviews
Patient Reviews & Feedback
3563+ Happy Patients
- Vandana Sharma
- 40+
Patient Age
Best Cancer Surgeon. Dr Amit Chakraborty is a very kind, supportive and skillful Cancer Surgeon. He has treated and cured numerous complicated Throat, Neck and Mouth cancer cases successfully.
- Pranit Patil
- 50+
Patient Age
A special thanks to Dr Amit Chakraborty, Amit Cancer Care, one of the finest Oncosurgeons in India and such a delightful personality! I simply cannot thank him much for his relentless efforts in treating my father. He has a magic in his words while explaining things calmly. He is the one who boosted confidence in the 1st visit itself and everything sounded so easy after in his presence. All the best Dr.Amit for your future endeavors!
Blogs & Videos
Blogs
Let’s Pledge To Conquer Cancer
There are many diseases like Heart Failure and others which have a worse prognosis or a higher death ratio in the world. But still today, Cancer is considered as a Taboo in the society.
Is Throat Cancer Curable?
Surgery and/or radiation treatment may be used to treat early-stage malignancies of the throat since they are tiny, localized, and highly curable when treated early.
How Quickly Does Throat Cancer Develop?
Cancer, in terms of biology, is nothing more than a collection of sick cells that divide at a much faster rate than the usual rate. A tumor of this kind forms spontaneously, displacing healthy cells, and spreads fast throughout the body.
Videos
Can Mouth Cancer Get Cured on Its Own?
Can mouth cancer get cured on its own? Does mouth cancer need any treatment? In this video, Dr. Amit Chakraborty (M.S. Gen. Surgery, M.Ch. Oncosurgery) will guide us in-depth about this topic.
Why Oral Cancer Is Increasing in India
Why are the cases of Head & Neck Cancer increasing in India? It has been identified that in past few years the cases of Head & Neck Cancer are growing rapidly in our country. Why is it so? In this video, Dr. Amit Chakraborty (M.S. Gen. Surgery, M.Ch. Oncosurgery) will guide us about this topic.
Treatment for Mouth cancer
What are the various treatment options for Head & Neck cancer? In this video, Dr. Amit Chakraborty (M.S. Gen. Surgery, M.Ch. Oncosurgery) will shed a light on different types of treatments to cure head & neck cancer.
