Author: Dr. Tom Kurien
MBBS, MD, DM (Gastroenterology) : Senior Consultant - Gastroenterology

Pancreas is an organ located in an arch across the spine near our body. It is the largest gland in our body. It produces important digestive hormones like insulin and glucagon. It is the 12th most common cancer in the world. 7th leading cause of cancer death. 

There are four main types of cancer 

1. Adenocarcinoma 

2. Neuroendocrine tumor 

3. IPmn 

4. Pseudopappillarytomour 

The disease usually occurs in middle-aged people after 50, but younger people can also be affected. No significant gender differences were observed. 

Important symptoms

• Lose appetite
• Lose weight
• Severe abdominal pain
• Especially at night
• Indigestion /li>
• Feel heavy in the stomach
• Jaundice
• Itching all over the body

Diagnosis

• Elevated CA-19-9 in the blood level of tomour marker 
• CTABdomen 
• Ultrasound scan abdomen 
• MRI Abdomen 
• PET SCAN DOTA scan 

When the patient approaches the doctor with the above symptoms, the disease can be diagnosed through these tests and it is also possible to know the stage of the disease. 

In the early stages, the disease is confined to the pancreas. In advanced stages, the disease can affect nearby major blood vessels. Then other organsThe poison will be affected and spread far and wide. Surgery is the main treatment for the disease. The diseased tumor in the pancreas is cut and removed. According to which part of the pancreas the disease has spread, Whipples resection. Distal pancreatectomy and subtotal pancreatectomy use the same surgical technique. If the disease is locally advanced, chemotherapy and radiotherapy are given before surgery with the opinion of the oncology doctor. If it is in the initial stage, the disease can be completely cured. Advanced old palliative chemo radiotherapy is effective. Pain palliation is very important here. Biliary stenting is very effective if the patient has jaundice. Endoscopic radiofrequency ablation is recommended for small hormone-producing tumors. Neuroendocrine tumor -Immunotherapy is effective. Often the disease is undiagnosed in its early stages and the risk of death is very high. Even in the best case scenario, only 30 percent of people complete five years.