Pancreatic Cancer Treated at Karmanos

Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer

What is pancreatic cancer?

Pancreatic cancer is a disease when cancer (malignant) cells form in the tissues of the pancreas.

What causes pancreatic cancer?

Risk factors for pancreatic cancer include the following:

  • Smoking
  • Being very overweight
  • Having a personal history of diabetes or chronic pancreatitis
  • Having a family history of pancreatic cancer or pancreatitis
  • Having certain hereditary conditions

What are the symptoms of pancreatic cancer?

Pancreatic cancer may not have early signs or symptoms. Signs or symptoms can be caused by pancreatic cancer or by other conditions. Pancreatic cancer is often times difficult to detect and diagnose early. Talk to your doctor if you have any of the following:

  • Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes)
  • Light-colored stools
  • Dark urine
  • Pain in the upper or middle abdomen and back
  • Weight loss for no known reason
  • Loss of appetite
  • Feeling very tired

How do you treat pancreatic cancer?

There are different types of treatment for patients with pancreatic cancer. Standard treatments include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, chemoradiation therapy and targeted therapy. New treatments are also being tested in clinical trials.

Information from The National Cancer Institute

Includes information about pancreatic cancer, causes, risk factors, diagnosis and treatment.

Learn More: NCI

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