Pancreatic Cancer - Term Paper Example

Pancreatic Cancer Introduction One of the most useful organs of human body is a six inches long spongy and tube-shaped organ, the pancreas, which are located on the backside of the human abdomen. One of the major uses of pancreas is the production of pancreatic juices and hormones. In specific, insulin is the significant example of hormones that are produced by the pancreas. Moreover, food in the small intestine is digested by the support of enzymes that are referred as pancreatic juices. In other words, pancreas plays a vital role in maintaining the working of human body. In this paper, we will focus on the term of pancreatic cancer, which is a type of cancer that affects the pancreas. In this regard, it was very necessary to understand the significance of pancreas in the human body. Now, the paper will briefly describe the term cancer, in order for detailed understanding of the pancreatic cancer. In short, a group of diseases is known as cancer. Until now, medical experts have discovered more than a hundred types of cancer out of which, pancreas has been affected by a few ones. However, some characteristics are similar in every cancer, such as existence of abnormal cells, as well as, the destruction of tissues in the human body. It has been observed that an orderly way is employed by the healthy cells to grow and arrange their distribution in the body. However, cancer gradually disarrays down this process, which results in the annihilation of the human body. (Yeo, pp. 41-44) In this regard, when pancreas is affected by cancer, it is referred as a pancreatic cancer, which usually selects the lymphatic system as the mode of travelling. In the human body, thin tubes create a network like blood vessels, which is known as the lymphatic system. In the pancreatic cancer, lymphatic system is used for the carrying out of a watery and colorless fluid that consists of cancer cells. Moreover, it has been indicated that pancreatic cancer often expands in the other parts of the body, such as bones, liver, lungs, etc., and such kind of cancer has been referred as metastatic pancreatic cancer. Causes and Symptoms While causes of pancreatic cancer are different and it varies from person to person, it has been indicated by medical experts that a person cannot get pancreatic cancer from another one. Although science has not been able to identify potential causes of the pancreatic cancer, it has been learnt by the experts that such disease has been observed in people with some similarities, which will be described in this paper. In specific, one of the major risk factors of pancreatic cancer is smoking, which has been considered the most crucial factor that causes such cancer in the human body. It has been shown by the researches that nonsmokers are less likely to get pancreatic cancer, as compared with the smokers, particularly cigarette smokers. In this regard, risks of pancreatic cancer reduce significantly by the process of smoking quitting. (Riess, pp. 57-59) In terms of symptoms, they are usually not visible in the early stages of the pancreatic cancer, and therefore, this cancer is known as a silent cancer. However, in the later stages, human skin starts becoming yellow, as well as, the whites of the eyes, which is caused by the blocking of bile by the tumor. Moreover, patients of pancreatic cancer have complained of having darkened color of urine, which is another major symptom of the pancreatic cancer. (Evans, pp. 30-31) This stage of the pancreatic cancer has been referred as stage of jaundice, which is a common stage in the humans around the globe. Later, the upper abdomen and back starts paining, as the cancer starts spreading in the body. Some of the other symptoms of pancreatic cancer are weight loss, weakness, nausea, etc. (Riess, pp. 32-33) As earlier mentioned in the paper that insulin and some other hormones are produced by pancreas, producing cells of such hormones are often affected by a rate type of pancreatic cancer, which is known as islet cell cancer. In the result, more than required hormones and insulin is produced by the cells, which results in the muscle spasms and dizziness. However, it is not necessary that these symptoms should be the cause of pancreatic cancer. A number of less serious problems often have similar symptoms, and therefore, it is advisable that a physician should be consulted upon having such symptoms in an individual. (Yeo, pp. 20-22) Diagnosis Until now, the paper has defined, described, and discussed some of the major factors and causes of pancreatic cancer. The paper will now focus on the process of diagnosis of the disease around the globe. It has been observed that family medical history is mostly considered by the physicians for the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. It is imperative that blood test, urine test, and stool test should be carried out by the individual. In some cases, a barium solution is often given to the patients that facilitate the x-rays of the upper digestive system for the analysis process. Presently, a biopsy is the only option that is available to the physicians for knowing whether an individual is affected by cancer or not. In the biopsy, some tissues of the pancreas are taken out for the testing and examination in a microscope. (Evans, pp. 42-45) Treatment A number of factors are responsible foe the effective treatment of pancreatic cancer. In brief, characteristics of tumor and general health of a patient is often considered during the treatment. In other words, every patient is treated according to his/her health history and tumors. It has been indicated by the experts that pancreatic cancer can be cured easily; however, it is very important that such cancer should be treated in its earlier stages. In general, surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy are the three major treatments of pancreatic cancer. Researchers are also studying biological therapy to see whether it can be helpful in treating this disease. Sometimes several methods are used, and the patient is referred to doctors who specialize in different kinds of cancer treatment. In the surgery, surgeons often remove the whole pancreas in cases of later stages. However, some portion of the stomach is often removed by the surgery. When such portion of the human organs is removed, the process has been referred as a Whipple procedure. In other process, cancer cells are damaged by the utilization of high-powered rays in the radiation therapy. Such process of pancreatic cancer treatment continues for at least five to six weeks, in order to avoid their increment in the body. (Evans, pp. 23-25) Moreover, it is observed that radiation is also carried out after the surgery, in order to kill cancer cells. Additionally, digestive problems and pain is often relieved by the radiation therapy. Last treatment process of pancreatic cancer is chemotherapy that kills cancer cells by the utilization of drugs. Some experts utilize a single drug, whereas, some prefer a combination of drugs to treat the pancreatic cancer. A muscle is usually selected for injecting drugs; however, some patients prefer taking drugs by mouth, which is an easy and comfortable process of treatment. Side Effects Until now, the paper has discussed some of the usual and significant process of treating pancreatic caner in different parts of the globe. However, it is indicated by most of the experts that the abovementioned treatment processes result in a number of side effects for the patients, which will be discussed in the following section of the paper. It is evident that most of the treatment processes that are used for treating pancreatic cancer are very powerful and potential. In this regard, it is experienced that while cancer cells are destroyed during the treatment, effects of treatment cannot be limited by the medical experts. (Yeo, pp. 87-89) A number of reports have indicated that human tissues are often damaged after the treatments of pancreatic cancer. In other words, unpleasant side effects are often caused by such treatments. However, it has been seen that different types of treatment result in different side effects. For instance, different types of drugs results in different types of side effects after the chemotherapy. Additionally, different reaction to the side effects has been observed in case of different person. In specific, growing cells are rapidly affected by chemotherapy that usually affects human skin and hairs. In the result, patients are not able to resist infection due to dizziness, weakness, nausea, etc. (Riess, pp. 32-33) A number of steps have been taken to reduce the side effects of pancreatic cancer treatments; however, no significant success has been achieved by the experts yet. In this regard, it is very imperative that further study should be carried out in this area. Conclusively, it is hoped that the paper will be beneficial for the students, teachers, experts, and nonprofessionals in the better understanding of the topic. Works Cited Douglas Brian Evans. Pancreatic Cancer. Springer, 2001. H. Riess. Pancreatic Cancer. Springer, 2008. Theresa Pluth Yeo. Pancreatic Cancer. Mosby, 2002. Read More