Pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic carcinoma describes the pancreas having cancerous cells arise now a healthy pancreas has two types of glands exocrine glands which send digestive enzymes off to the small intestine and Endocrine glands which help regulate metabolism in the body for example maintaining normal blood, sugar over 95% of pancreatic tumors develop in the pancreas is exocrine tissues and of these tumors arising in the epithelial Cells lining the pancreatic ducts account for the vast majority of cases This, type of pancreatic cancer is known as pancreatic Adenocarcinoma due to the cells glandular, like appearance under the microscope Often pancreatic adenocarcinoma is used interchangeably with pancreatic.

Carcinoma These tumors, typically form in the head or the neck of the pancreas but in some cases tumors form in the tail Around 5% of exocrine pancreatic carcinomas are caused, by malignancies in the acinar cells Which are the Cells that produce digestive enzymes like trypsinogen and around 1% are assisted no carcinomas or malignant cysts There are also other types of pancreatic cancer but those are even more rare Generally pancreatic carcinoma is caused, by genetic mutations in the ductal epithelial Cells and these mutations might activate oncogenes, which promote cancer or?

inactivate tumor suppressor genes Either way this can lead to uncontrolled Cell growth caused, by the disruption of the cell signaling pathways that regulate cell survival and growth as Well as multiple immune system responses like inflammation and stress responses Although, it's not exactly.

Clear how. These genetic mutations that trigger pancreatic Carcinoma develop there are some well-known modifiable risk factors like smoking, which increases the risk, by two to fivefold Obesity as, well as eating a diet high in red meat there are also some non-modifiable risk factors like being male being african-american and being over 65 years old Also certain other diseases seem to increase the risk of developing pancreatic.

Carcinoma Like diabetes chronic pancreatitis and liver cirrhosis all of which are linked to excessive alcohol consumption So there does seem to be an indirect relationship between pancreatic carcinoma and alcohol as, well Finally a family history of pancreatic cancer is also an important risk factor with inherited mutations like Brca2 or breast cancer gene two being the most common cause of inherited pancreatic carcinoma With mutations in pa lb2.

Taking second place Initially symptoms are often vague, like nausea vomiting and fatigue There might, also be weight loss, which might be due to cancer associated anorexia or?

Malabsorption due to an obstructed pancreatic duct which can cost the area or foul-smelling greasy loose stools One of the most specific symptoms of pancreatic carcinoma, is mid epigastric pain that radiates to the mid or lower back Which often hurts the most at night when the individual is lying down flat Another classic, symptom that's been described is called the true so sign of malignancy which is when blood clots that can Be felt as small lumps under the skin appear unexpectedly in superficial veins and then over time migrate to different locations As, well as core voyeurs sign which is when the gall bladder is enlarged in palpable and the patient doesn't find it at all tender To, the touch, which is unlike gall stones The location of the tumor can affect the symptoms as Well for example the tumors in the head of the pancreas then it can block the common bile duct which leads to a backup of bile and causes obstructive jaundice Individuals with this might have a loss of appetite Darker urine and lighter stools as, well as eventually developing pruritus or itchy skin, and having their skin turn yellow If instead the tumor affects the endocrine function of the pancreas then a, new onset of diabetes in an older patient might also, be a sign of pancreatic carcinoma Laboratory findings are generally nonspecific for pancreatic carcinoma Both serum amylase and serum lipase, levels might be elevated as well as tumor markers see a 19-9 antigen which is a molecule that helps with immune surveillance and Cea a glycoprotein involved in cell adhesion The activation of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes can, disrupt their production so that elevated levels appear in the bloodstream Since these aren't specific for pancreatic.

Carcinoma though they might even be elevated in patients without cancer Particularly those, who smoke and so these can't be used for diagnosis Sometimes when there are related problems like obstructive jaundice it might cause elevated bilirubin alkaline, phosphatase and transaminase levels Medical imaging techniques are used to confirm a diagnosis and help with staging Stage one is tumors less than 2 centimeters stage 2 is tumors greater than 2 centimeters Stage 3 is it can spread to neighboring tissues and organs like the duodenum in the stomach and stage 4 is metastatic Me nia can spread through the blood, and lymph to other tissues like the liver and the lungs Finally imaging can, also be used to help, determine if it's resectable For treatment chemotherapy might be given as a neoadjuvant Meaning used to shrink the tumor before surgery or as an adjuvant.

Therapy after surgery Or to help individuals who can't have surgery at all Unfortunately most people with pancreatic carcinoma have a poor prognosis Because it's typically pretty advanced at the time of diagnosis even, among patients with, stage 1 pancreatic Carcinoma the long term survival rates are pretty low all right as a quick recap, think retta carcinomas most commonly a cancer of the exocrine pancreas especially in the ductal epithelial cells of the head and neck of the pancreas and It's often caused, by mutations in oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes which leads to unchecked cell growth Thanks for watching you can, help support, us by donating on patreon subscribing to our channel or telling your friends about us on social media