Pancreas Cancer

Question: What are the chances of living with pancreas cancer? I just found out that my uncle has pancreas cancer and it had spread to his liver. They have not determined what "stage" he is in, as this news is very recent. What are the chances that he will overcome this disease and live? Right now I'm hoping for a miracle and praying real hard

Answer: Data from the ACS (American Cancer Society) indicates perhaps 1% chance of five year survival with stage IV pancreatic cancer. If the pancreatic cancer has truly spread to the liver, it is stage IV. Here's the site http://www.cancer.org/docroot/cri/content/cri_2_4_3x_how_is_pancreatic_cancer_staged_34.asp 5-year relative survival for pancreatic cancer Stage IA 37% Stage IB 21% Stage IIA 12% Stage IIB 6% Stage III 2% Stage IV 1% Overall, about 20% of people with pancreatic cancer live at least 1 year after diagnosis, while less than 4% will be alive after 5 years.

Question: What causes pancreas cancer and How to avoid it .Anybody ? ? My relative complain of very painful stomach pains , and feeling cold all over, and cannot digest food,; the doctor diagnoze it as cancer of the pancreas.

Answer: Pancreatic cancer occurs when cells in your pancreas develop genetic mutations. These mutations cause the cells to grow uncontrollably and to continue living after normal cells would die. These accumulating cells can form a tumor. Understanding your pancreas - Your pancreas is about 6 inches (15 centimeters) long and looks something like a pear lying on its side. The pancreas is a crucial part of your digestive system. It secretes hormones, including insulin, to help your body process sugar. And it produces digestive juices to help your body digest food. Types of pancreatic cancer - The types of cells involved in a pancreatic cancer help determine the best treatment. Types of pancreatic cancer include: Cancer that forms in the pancreas ducts (adenocarcinoma). Cells that line the ducts of the pancreas help produce digestive juices. The majority of pancreatic cancers are adenocarcinomas. Sometimes these cancers are called exocrine tumors. Cancer that forms in the hormone-producing cells. Cancer that forms in the hormone-producing cells of the pancreas is called endocrine cancer. Endocrine cancers of the pancreas are very rare. PREVENTION: Although there's no proven way to prevent pancreatic cancer, you can take steps to reduce your risk, including: Quit smoking. If you smoke, quit. Talk to your doctor about ways to help you quit, including support groups, medications and nicotine replacement therapy. If you don't smoke, don't start. Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight increases your risk of pancreatic cancer. If you need to lose weight, aim for a slow, steady weight loss — 1 or 2 pounds (0.5 or 1 kilogram) a week. Combine daily exercise with a plant-focused diet with smaller portions to help you lose weight. Exercise regularly. Aim for 30 minutes of exercise on most days. If you're not used to exercising, start out slowly and work up to your goal. Eat a healthy diet. A diet full of colorful fruits and vegetables and whole grains is good for you, and may help reduce your risk of cancer. -

Question: Father died of cancer in the pancreas, but on death certificate it says gastroenteritis? My father passed away early hours this morning, we all new he was suffering from cancer of the pancreas but today when we got his proof of death it states cancer and gastroenteritis? I typed it online but it doesn't make sense, it explains it happens after having pancreas cancer but I'm confused. what did he die of?

Answer: Sorry about your dad. I lost my dad two years ago. It's rough. But to answer your good question, it is difficult to label one cause of death when people die. As a cancer specialist doctor for 20 years, I filled out hundreds of these certificates. I was always tempted to just say "respiratory arrest" and "cardiac arrest" - since all of us die when we stop breathing and the heart stops. I was at the bedside when many of my patients died. In the vast majority of cases, people stop breathing first - then the heart stops. For many of my patients I could have listed half a dozen things that led to death. The underlying malignancy may be the main problem, but often it was a pneumonia or a blood clot or sepsis or a bleeding event that was the last straw. There are many ancillary events that may occur in a cancer patient. Gastroenteritis is a bit unusual to be listed as the primary final event - if this is how it was listed on the certificate. The form asks for contributing causes along with the main diagnosis. It may have been filled out late at night by a tired doctor who listed problems in reverse order. I can't tell you how many times I filled those forms out very late at night. Paperwork often gets done when patients and their family members are asleep and the phone stops ringing for a few hours. Being a cancer doctor is a 24/7 job. At the peak of my practice I was losing 20 people every month to advanced cancers. The worst day was five good people lost in one 24 hour period. I always felt that spending time with the patient and the family was more important than the after death paperwork - though I always had the paperwork done within 24 hours at the expense of sleep. It is necessary, and record keeping is part of the job.

Question: what do u think the youngest age you can get pancreas cancer is? what do u think the youngest age you can get pancreas cancer is? what r some other cancers you can get as a child jw because i have had weird stomach pains and thought this might be the cause. I'm 13.

Answer: unfortunately almost all cancers can be found in a child. My nephew was born with kidney cancer and needed surgery when he was six months old (they had to let him grow a little before operating.

Question: Does anyone had ideas of the outcome of chemo to remove pancreas cancer when there is only little cancer left? I have had whipples surgery which removed all but 2% of the cancer and are now having chemo to remove the rest. I am lucky enough to have been treated before the cancer reached the liver or lymp knobes. Does anyone have any idea of the outcome of this. I am hoping there are some good news stories I have heard a lot about people not having long to live but all so far have had cancer more advanced then i have had.

Answer: Chemo works differently on each person - your oncologist will monitor your progress to know if it is working for you. That it hasn't spread is a good sign. The estimate is that cancer doubles in size every 6 months - at one cell that is not a problem - but as time passes it becomes a threat. The chemo is meant to kill the remaining cells and thus end the growth. Good luck.

Question: what are the treatments for pancreas cancer? a friend just got diag with it and they are going to remove it with surgey , she did not say it was life threating surgey but i want to know what surgey prod do they have for this .i know all cancer is serious . now some facts i know she said it has not spread anywhere , and the will just remove that spot .

Answer: Yes all cancers are serious, but some are more serious than others. Pancreatic cancer is one the deadliest cancers there are. There are a few procedures for surgically removing it none of which are particularly life threading, especially compared to the disease. The most common is called the Whipple procedure. After surgery is completed the doctor’s will know the extent of her disease and will discuss treatment options. I don’t want to scare or upset you, but perhaps it is best you that you start to understand the seriousness of your friend’s condition now, rather than her to explaining it to you herself. The biggest problem she is facing is not the surgery. Her prognosis is not good. A stage 1 (localized) pancreatic cancer has a 5 year survival rate of about 16% and only about 8% are diagnosed at this stage. People with advanced disease survive 6-9 months. I hope she is one of the lucky ones.

Question: my girlfriend has been diagnosed having pancreas cancer. Is there any cure or treatment about this disease_? She lives in a small town in Sao Paulo and doctors there, they say that she is bound to die because such type of cancer is incurable. But she has read that in Florida, USA, there are treatments still under experiment that have already saved the life of quite a few people.

Answer: Treatment for Pancreas Cancer Pancreatic cancer is the common type of gastrointestinal cancer. If diagnosed in the early stage, it can be treated with various treatment options. Read on to know about the treatment for pancreas cancer. Pancreas is one of the important organs of the digestive system, which is located adjacent to the small intestine behind the stomach in the upper part of the abdomen. The main function of pancreas is to produce certain enzymes, required for the digestion process. It produces the hormone insulin that controls blood glucose levels. Pancreatic cancer results from uncontrolled growth of malignant cells. There are two types of pancreatic cancer; exocrine pancreatic cancer or adenocarcinoma and islet cell pancreatic cancer or endocrine cancer. Pancreatic cancer usually spreads very rapidly through the lymphatic system to other organs such as lungs, liver, bones etc. It is rarely detected in its early stage. That's why it is one of the leading causes of cancer death. It is reported that approximately 30,000 people are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the United States. Certain factors such as obesity, smoking, chronic pancreatitis, long-term diabetes, age, gender, family history and certain hereditary disorders such as hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer, hereditary pancreatitis and multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 syndrome can increase the risk of pancreatic cancer. Symptoms of pancreatic cancer usually appear in the advanced stage of the disease. No symptoms appear in the early stage of cancer and hence, pancreatic cancer is referred to as a silent disease. Some common symptoms of pancreatic cancer are pain in the upper abdomen and in the back, nausea, loss of appetite, weight loss and weakness. Pancreatic cancer can also cause jaundice, digestive problems and muscle spasms, dizziness and diarrhea due to excessive production of insulin. How Is Pancreatic Cancer Diagnosed? An accurate diagnosis of pancreatic cancer in the early stage is very essential in order to seek immediate medical treatment. Certain tests and investigations are carried out to diagnose pancreas cancer including blood tests such as determination of levels of serum bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase and certain imaging tests such as ultrasound, MRI scan, CT scan, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC) and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS). Stages of Pancreas Cancer Once pancreatic cancer is diagnosed, staging of the cancer is done with the help of X-ray, CT scan, Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and bone scan. Pancreatic cancer can be staged in three broad categories such as respectable, locally advanced and metastatic. Staging of pancreatic cancer can be done in a different way such as stage 0, stage I to stage IV. In stage 0, abnormal cells can be found in the pancreatic lining. This condition is also known as carcinoma in situ. In stage I, cancer is developed and found in the pancreas only. In stage II, cancer may spread to nearby organs and lymph nodes. In stage III, cancer may spread to major blood vessels and nearby lymph nodes. In stage IV, cancer may spread to other distant organs such as lungs, liver and peritoneal cavity. Treatment for Pancreas Cancer Treatment for pancreas cancer is decided depending upon the location and stage of the cancer. The treatment option is selected on the basis of age and overall health of the patient and patient's personal preference. Cancer treatment is aimed at removing the cancer when possible or preventing further growth of the cancer causing more harm. If pancreatic cancer is diagnosed in its advanced stage and any treatment option to remove the cancer is not possible, then treatment is given to reduce the symptoms and increase the comfort level of the patient. Various treatment options for pancreatic cancer include medications, surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and targeted drug therapy. Locally advanced pancreatic cancer can be treated with a combination of radiation therapy and chemotherapy or with chemotherapy only. Chemotherapy is the fundamental treatment for locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer. Surgery: Complete removal of cancer with surgery is the only way to cure pancreatic cancer. The localized pancreatic cancer can be removed with surgery and hence considered as resectable cancer. If cancer has spread to other organs, blood vessels or lymph nodes, then surgery cannot be a treatment option. In case of resectable cancer, surgery is carried out to remove tumors in the pancreatic head or tumors in the pancreatic body and tail. When pancreatic cancer is developed in the pancreatic head, a Whipple procedure or pancreatoduodenectomy is recommended. This surgery involves removal of pancreatic head, duodenum (a portion of small intestine) as well as gallbladder and part of bile duct. It may involve

Question: Patrick Swayze has go pancreas cancer why do the papers have to go on about it i think papers shouldnt print? who has cancer as these people deserve privacy to deal with their illness. who agrees that papers should stay quiet when someone has cancer?

Answer: you are spot on.

Question: How quickly does pancreas cancer spread? How quickly does it go from stage 1 to stage 4?

Answer: For my Mom, it was about 3 months I'm guessing. She started having belly pains in December 2008 and was diagnosed stage IV April 1,2008. She passed away July 30, 2008.

Question: My friend's grandpa got diagnosed with Pancreas cancer and I want to know more about it? Some statistics would be nice. Like how many people actually survive from it, stuff like that. For those who said I was lazy and crap that that, shut up. I did look it up, and I found a whole bunch of useless information.

Answer: Survival Rates According to the American Cancer Society, for all stages of pancreatic cancer combined, the one-year relative survival rate is 20%, and the five-year rate is 4%. These low survival rates are attributable to the fact that fewer than 10% of patients' tumors are confined to the pancreas at the time of diagnosis; in most cases, the malignancy has already progressed to the point where surgical removal is impossible. In those cases where resection can be performed, the average survival rate is 18 to 20 months. The overall five-year survival rate is about 10%, although this can rise as high as 20% to 25% if the tumor is removed completely and when cancer has not spread to lymph nodes. Tumor Size Tumor size does appear to impact survival rates. The larger the tumor, the less likely it is to be cured by resection. However, even large tumors may be removed and a number of patients with tumors greater than 4-5 cm appear to have been cured by surgery. There is increasing evidence that the best pancreatic cancer outcomes are achieved at major medical centers with extensive experience -- those that perform more than 20 Whipple procedures annually. Progression In patients where a cure is not possible, progression of the disease may be accompanied by progressive weakness, weight loss, and pain. Effective techniques for pain management are widely available today and used by physicians experienced in the care of pancreatic cancer patients. The techniques include nerve blocks and various drugs that can be taken by mouth or injection. There are also a variety of effective techniques available to treat bile duct obstruction which may produce jaundice and stomach obstruction caused by growth of the tumor. Both surgical and non-surgical techniques may be effective. There is increasing evidence that the best pancreatic cancer outcomes are achieved at major medical centers with extensive experience -- those that perform more than 20 Whipple procedures annually.

Question: Pancreas cancer? Can pancreas cancer be caused from alcohal abuse? I know a person who has pancreas cancer, he used to have a problem with alcohal but hes been clean for about 20 years.

Answer: sure.. 80% of pancreas cancers are caused by alcohol abuse

Question: Is patrick Swayzie really dieing of pancreas cancer? I heard he was and someone else told me he was going to be ok?

Answer: he will die eventually. it is a matter of months or a few years at most. since there is no cure for this form of illness, the chances of living is very slim. infact, patients who are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer will die no matter what. it just depends on how long he can fight it for but he will gradually deteriorate. his doctor said he is responding very well to the treatment which is a good thing but he will die as there is no cure for this horrific illness. my heart goes out to him and his family. i wish him well. ! he's a sound lad.

Question: My grandfather has a tumer in his pancreas and its cancer. What is the best way of dealing with this? My grandpaw has a tumer in his pancreas which means its cancer. He's giong in for survery tomorrow and its not guarenteed that hes going to make. Please help me by leaving me answers on how to deal with this!!!

Answer: I know how you feel, I went through the same thing when my dad had open heart surgery. There's no easy way out. I just went about my daily life and tried not to focus on it too much. It really helped me to keep busy and active, so I didn't get run down. My mom wouldn't let me stay at the hospital during the surgery, so I had to go to a friends house. I don't know if you are a religious person or not but I prayed a lot when my dad was going through this. For me the worst part was not waiting for teh surgery to be over. It was watching him get back on his feet, and re-learn everything from taking a shower to driving a car. It wasn't like he just forgot how to, he was in a lot of pain and had to adapt. It really helped me to write about my expiriences and to keep a journal. It helped me clear my mind before bed and when I woke up in the morning. My best advice to you would be to take plenty of walks, pray, juornal, eat well, and try to live as normal a life as possible. Try to talk it out with people and get and give lots of hugs as you go through the day. Make sure you get plenty of rest, thats key. Dont be afraid to cry. Emotion is NOT weakness, it is strength. You are in my prayers, as is your grandfather. Good luck and be strong. Cry.

Question: Can pancreas cancer be hereditary? I just lost my grandmother to pancreas cancer, and my grandfather also died of pancreas cancer about ten years ago? I was just wondering if my family could be at any higher risk of pancreas cancer for hereditary reasons?

Answer: Hmmm. Your grandfather and grandmother were probably not related, so the fact that a married couple both developed pancreatic cancer is not good evidence for a familial genetic defect. This may be serendipitous - - bad luck. There certainly seems to be a possibility of familial propensity to develop pancreatic cancer. You might look up President Jimmy Carter's family. I believe he has lost five close family members to this malignancy. I do not know of any test you could have done to see if you have a genetic defect that might place you at risk. I don't believe this has been identified as yet. I'll be interested to see if any of the other cancer specialists on Yahoo answers know about this. Good question.

Question: final stages of pancreas cancer and the signs? my grand father has been diagnosed with pancreas cancer and been told he has less than a week, i was just wondering what the final stages are and what the signs of the last few days are like. at the moment he is in hospital and the toxin that was in his liver has travelled to his brain and he doesn't recognise us. how long will it be before he passes?

Answer: There are physical signs when the patient is 'actively dying' . . this is far different than what people call 'terminal' . . 'actively dying' refers to the actual physical shutting down of the body that leads to death. It may come as a surprise to you but just like everything else . . each individual experiences actively dying and death differently. There is no right or wrong way . . and dying just like birth can be hard work as the body struggles to stay alive. Much of what you will see from a dying patient however is more stressful for the living who watch this than for the patient. Your grandfather will probably be quite calm as he has accepted what all mortals will one day face . . so all that needs to be done is to keep him comfortable, be available to see him, tell him it is okay to go, and help ease the passage. You can find out more information about this final stage of life at the NCI, which explains the physical signs of approaching death . . there is no 'timeframe' . . some patients can take weeks and others hours . . there is no way to know before hand which path your grandfather will go : End of Life Issues http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/facts… "Signs that death is imminent (active dying): Not all of these occur - everyone is different * Cool arms and legs. While the hands, arms, feet and legs will feel cool to the touch, your loved one's trunk will feel warm. * Bluish coloration. Fingers, earlobes, lips and nail beds may turn blue. * Purple coloration on the legs. Also called mottling, this blotchy coloring is one of the clearest signs that death is approaching. * No longer eating or drinking. Your loved one may not feel like eating, or he or she may no longer be able to swallow. * Congested breathing. Noisy breathing is sometimes called the "death rattle." As secretions from the lungs build up, your loved one may no longer be able to cough up these secretions. Eventually the secretions will dry up because your loved one's body may become dehydrated after he or she stops eating and drinking. Medications can control congestion if your loved one feels uncomfortable. * Irregular breathing. Breathing patterns may change in depth and rate. Your loved one may also stop breathing for several seconds at a time. Keep in mind that your loved one generally isn't aware of these changes. * Discolored urine. If your loved one stops taking in liquids, there will be less urine and it will be darker in color. * Incontinence. As muscles that control bowel movements and urination relax, your loved one may experience incontinence. * Blurred vision. His or her eyes may appear glassy and unfocused. * Limited ability to communicate. Your loved one may lose the ability to speak. He or she most likely can still hear you. * Confusion and agitation. This can be subtle or pronounced, involving jerking motions, hallucinations or delirium."

Question: pancreas cancer and mannatech products? just wondering if anyone knows anything about the effects of mannatech products (glyconutrients) on pancreas cancer. my father is dying from this disease and we are searching for anything that might gives a little longer with him. thanks for your help.

Answer: My dad died of pancreatic cancer and I'm sorry to say that in its advanced or somewhat advanced stages the end is near. I am so sorry your father is ill. I will pray for him tonight. I miss my dad he was 54 when he died. A Vietnam vet that got cancer from the agent orange they were spraying all over Vietnam. A real American hero! Only a very small percentage survive pancreatic cancer. It is like 5%.