pancreatic carcinoma…

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digestive system, endocrine glands, pancreatic cancer, ct scan, pancreas, biliary obstruction, pancreatic cancer, cancer, pancreas, pancreatic carcinoma, malignancy, cancer, the pancreas, pancreatic cancer, 4th leading cause of death from cancer, disease is slightly more common in men than in women, risk increases, more common in smokers, in obese individuals, 1/3 of cases of pancreatic carcinoma, attributed to cigarette smoking, controversy, to whether type 2 diabetes, risk factor, pancreatic cancer, a minority of cases, known to be related to hereditary syndromes, weight loss, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, jaundice, nausea, vomiting, weakness, fatigue, diarrhea, indigestion, back pain, clay-colored stools, paleness, depression, ercp, abdominal ct scan, pancreatic biopsy, abdominal ultrasound, abdominal mri, tests, serum bilirubin, liver function tests, time of diagnosis, 20% of pancreatic tumors, removed by surgery, standard procedure, a pancreaticoduodenectomy, whipple procedure, surgery, pancreatic cancer, done at centers that perform the procedure frequently, studies suggest that surgery is best performed at hospitals that perform at least 9 of these surgeries per year, tumor is confined, pancreas but cannot be removed, of radiation therapy, chemotherapy recommended, tumor has spread, metastasized, to other organs the liver, chemotherapy alone, used, standard chemotherapy agent is gemcitabine, drugs used, gemcitabine provides clinical improvement in approximately 25% of patients, patients, biliary obstruction, blockage, the vessels that transport bile, tumor cannot be totally removed, obstruction must be relieved, generally two approaches to this, surgery, placement of a biliary stent, similar to stents placed, in the arteries, the heart to relieve blockages, ercp, pain, important part, the treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer, hospice, very helpful to patients, pain, symptom management, psychological support, the patient, family, course, the illness, stress of illness, eased by joining a support group, members who share common experiences, cancer, support group, see the discussion of hospice, in the treatment section, patients, pancreatic cancer that is resectable, surgically removed, cured, cure rates, significantly less than 50%, chemotherapy, radiation, given after surgery, to attempt to increase the cure rate, pancreatic cancer that cannot be removed completely, surgery, cancer that has spread beyond the pancreas, cure is not currently possible, average survival, less than 1 year, such patients might consider enrollment, clinical trial, a medical research study, the best treatment, pancreatic cancer, weight loss, blood clots, liver dysfunction, infections, pain, depression, symptoms pain, controlled, aggressive pain management, have persistent abdominal pain, loss of appetite, fatigue, back pain, symptoms suggestive of this disorder, smoke, stop smoking, eat a diet high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, exercise regularly.