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Learn About Pancreatic Cancer
Learn About Pancreatic Cancer
As the name suggests, cancer in the pancreas of our body is called pancreatic
cancer. When pancreatic cells start multiplying uncontrollably pancreatic cancer
starts. An insight about the organ pancreas will help you understand pancreatic
cancer better.
Pancreas is a digestive organ that is situated right behind the stomach. The
pancreatic duct later joins the biliary duct (coming from the liver) to empty their
contents into the small intestine. Two types of cells are present in pancreas:
1. Exocrine cells: Most of the pancreatic cells are exocrine and form the
exocrine glands, which release pancreatic enzymes. These enzymes reach
the intestines through ducts and aid in fat digestion.
2. Endocrine cells: Endocrine cells are also present in the pancreas, in
much smaller percentage. They form the islets of Langerhans, which
produce hormones like insulin and glucagon and release them into the
blood stream.
Types of pancreatic cancer
The endocrine and exocrine cells of the pancreas form very different types of
tumors. The difference is evident in their causes, diagnosis, symptoms, as well as
treatments.
This is the more common type of pancreas cancer, out of the two. Among the
exocrine pancreas cancers, around 95% of them start in the ducts of the pancreas.
Functioning NETs: Hormones that are released by the pancreatic NETs cause the
symptoms. These ones are called functioning tumors. The name is given after the
type of hormone produced by the tumor cell. Some examples being Gastrinomas,
Insulinomas Glucagonomas, Somatostatinomas VIPomas, and PPomas.
Pancreatic cancer causes and risk factors
involved:
These symptoms depend on the part of the body to which cancer has spread.
Awareness, as well as constant health check-ups and diagnosis, are the only way to
prevent pancreatic cancer.