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Pancreatic cancer poses significant challenges, often diagnosed late. Yet, through early detection, advanced treatments, and unwavering support, we strive to improve outcomes and offer hope to those affected.
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In the between your stomach and spine is a thin, lumpy gland called the pancreas. It typically measures about six inches in length and is shaped like a thin pear. The organ has three sections and is wide at one end and narrow at the other. The more extensive right end is known as the head, the midriff is the body, and the tight left end is the tail.
A duct known as the “pancreatic duct” connects it to the first part of the small bowel, the “duodenum” through a joint opening known as the “ampulla” with the bile duct.
Adenocarcinoma, the most common malignant tumor of the pancreas, originates from cells that make digestive enzymes and accounts for 95% of all pancreatic cancers. Islet cells, which are specialized pancreatic cells, can occasionally develop into masses.
Islet cell carcinoma is characterized by the presence of hormone-secreting cells. These tumors can be functional and produce excessive amounts of hormones, or they can be functional but do not produce any hormones. The majority of islet cell tumors are malignant, but some are like insulin producing tumors, are benign.
The specific reasons for pancreatic malignant growth are as yet unsure, yet there are some realized gamble factors that can make an individual bound to get this infection.
Having one or more risk factors does not guarantee that you will contract the disease. Additionally, there may not have been any known risk factors for many people who contract the disease.
Research has shown that a portion of these gamble factors influence the DNA of cells in the pancreas, which can bring about strange cell development and may make growths structure.
An abdominal pain or burning sensation, heartburn, or indigestion (dyspepsia) are early signs of pancreatic cancer.
Please keep in mind that the majority of pancreatic cancer symptoms are nonspecific and can be caused by a variety of issues, even if you haven’t been diagnosed with the disease.
A sudden change in blood sugar control for diabetics or a sudden onset of diabetes: Diabetes may be a risk factor and an early symptom.
Jaundice occurs when bilirubin, produced in the liver, builds up in the blood. Bilirubin travels down the bile duct and passes through the pancreas just before emptying into the duodenum, a section of the small intestine. If the bile duct becomes blocked, bilirubin builds up in the blood causing noticeably yellow skin and eye.
A pancreatic tumor pressing against nerves induces dull, constant pain in the upper abdomen and back. This discomfort is often localized to the upper abdomen and upper back, occasionally radiating to the shoulder.
Lack of Appetite, Nausea, Diarrhoea, and Weight Loss. These may occur when a pancreatic tumor presses against the stomach and small intestine. Digestion problems may also occur for complex reasons not specifically related to the tumor’s location.
Doctors are better able to determine which treatments are most likely to be effective for a given type and stage of cancer thanks to their years of experience treating cancer patients and participating in clinical trials.
There are a number of common tests listed in this section, but not all of them need to be done on a patient. Your doctor will choose the tests that will give him or her the most insight into the tumor or disease.
During this procedure, a doctor will insert a thin, flexible “telescope,” or endoscope, into your mouth and then pass it down your throat and into your digestive system to examine your internal organs.
ERCP, or endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography, is the name of the procedure. The doctor can use the endoscope to inject a liquid directly into the bile duct and pancreatic duct, enabling x-ray images to show these organs. Dr Deepak G Chhabra is Pancreatic Cancer Doctor in Mumbai.
The doctor can determine whether these duct blockages and inflammation are caused by cancer or other issues thanks to the results of the test.
A CT scan shows your body’s organs and other structures, including any tumors. It is used to examine a cancer in greater detail and its relationship to your body’s surrounding organs. It additionally gives data connected with malignant growth spread into the lymph hubs, liver or lungs.
This test might be utilized to develop more data after a X-ray or CT filter. All patients do not require a PET-CT scan. This scan’s necessity will be determined by your physician.
By injecting a radioactive substance into the body, this test is combined with a CT scan to highlight all areas where the tumor has or can spread.
Blood tests provide a complete blood count and assess the function of the liver and kidneys. A protein (Ca 19.9) is frequently released into the blood by pancreatic cancer. This is measurable.
Although it cannot be used to diagnose pancreatic cancer, it can provide important information to your doctor about the disease and how it responds to treatment.
Pancreatic Cancer Surgery is the most common treatment for pancreatic cancer. despite the fact that cancer surgeries are time-consuming and extensive.
Surgery has become safer thanks to improved medical care, and surgical instruments are now available. The overall safety of cancer surgical procedures has been significantly improved by improved post-operative monitoring and anaesthesia techniques.
The surgeries required to treat pancreatic cancer are determined by the location of the tumor. However, the majority of pancreas cancers are found in the head of the pancreas, requiring “Whipple’s surgery.“umors in the body or tail of the pancreas are treated with a procedure called “Distal Pancreatectomy,” which involves removing the spleen as well as the body and tail of the pancreas.
This major operation involves removal of:
The diagram below shows what your surgeon removes
The surgeon reconnects the remainder of the pancreas, bile duct and stomach to different sections of the small bowel so the digestive tract keeps working.
A feeding tube may be placed during the surgery to replenish nutrition to the patient after surgery.
Certain kinds of pancreatic tumors in the pancreas’ tail or body are treated with this procedure. The pancreas’ tail alone or together with a portion of its body is either removed during this procedure. Typically, the spleen is also removed.
Occasionally, a surgeon may begin surgery with the expectation that it will cure the patient but discovers that this is not possible. To alleviate or prevent symptoms, the surgeon may continue the operation as a palliative or bypass procedure. As it travels through this region of the pancreas, cancers that develop in the head of the pancreas can obstruct the common bile duct. Because the bile cannot enter the intestine, the patient may experience pain and digestive issues, as well as jaundice and vomiting. The body will accumulate the chemicals in the bile
There are 2 options for relieving bile duct blockage:-
After an anaesthetic, the movement of the bowel slows down and usually takes about 72 hours to get back to normal. After about 48-72 hours you will probably be ready to start taking small sips of water, however your doctors will tell you when it is appropriate for you to start drinking some fluids. This will be gradually increased after a couple of days until you are able to eat a light diet.
You will probably be ready to go home in about 10-14 days after your operation and once your stitches have been removed. If deemed appropriate your doctor may send you home with stitches and call you later to remove the stitches. By and large you should be able to climb several flights of stairs after your discharge from the hospital and you will be given diet instructions.
Before you leave hospital you will be given an appointment for a post-operative check-up at the outpatient clinic.
After surgery, you will be transferred to the ICU for monitoring, usually for 48 to 72 hours. Your overall hospital stay, if there are no complications, typically lasts between 10-14 days. Pain and discomfort will be managed by the anaesthetic team with pain-killers and an intravenous infusion until you can eat and drink again. A naso-gastric (NG) tube will be in place to remove fluids and prevent nausea, usually removed within 48 hours. A catheter might also be used to drain urine.
Dr. Deepak Chhabra is a consultant Surgical Oncologist with an extensive experience in cancer surgeries. He is has specialized in Hepato (Liver) -Biliary (Gallbladder) and Pancreatic Cancer Surgeries.
Take the first step towards your journey to wellness by scheduling an appointment with Dr. Deepak Chhabra, a trusted oncologist dedicated to providing compassionate care and personalized treatment plans.
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