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Pancreas is a gland located in the upper abdomen, immediately behind the stomach, and has two different functions: synthesis of enzymes that help digest food in the small intestine and synthesis of hormones such as insulin secreted to blood circulation.
It can cause two types of cancer: adenocarcinoma (which begins in the cells that synthesize) and neuroendocrine cancer, the first that has a high mortality rate if it is not discovered over time. According to the Ministry of Health, the last figure refers to 4.1 per 100 000 inhabitants.
What symptoms should I be alert to?
Because of the location of the pancreas and its relationship to other organs, the various symptoms depend on the location of the tumors. Those in the pancreas tend to cause jaundice (yellowing of the skin, sclera and other mucous membranes) or dark urine (coluria). This is because they prevent the bile duct from flowing through the head of the pancreas, "says Felipe Puelma, a digestive surgeon at Clínica Las Condes.
The doctor also explains that, generally, tumors located in the body and / or the pancreas tail usually produce a few symptoms until they are of considerable size. Among the most common are abdominal discomfort, low weight, lack of appetite and dorsal pain.
With regard to proven risk factors, we found smoking, exposure to heavy metals, nitrosamines, and excessive alcohol and ionizing radiation. While frequent sports, follow a healthy diet with fresh fruit and vegetables and an adequate amount of vitamin D and omega 3 of marine origin are protective against this disease, although what improves prognosis is early diagnosis.
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How is pancreatic cancer diagnosed?
Being an isolated organ of the digestive system, the pancreas offers a very late symptomatology, so the diagnosis of cancer is usually done when it is already late. Therefore, medical examinations if they have a family history can help detect it early, allowing it to attack effectively.
Those who have a higher risk of having pancreatic cancer are those who have a family history of digestive cancer – especially pancreas – so they must remain in preventive control.
Dr. Puelma explains that the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer is done through examinations such as computed abdominal tomography and / or magnetic resonance of the abdomen. "In both cases, they can be complementary and must be done with the latest technology, as they allow for better planning of therapy," he says.
Abdominal ecotomography may be complementary, but it has a low probability of seeing the entire pancreas due to its location within the abdomen. Currently, given greater access to these diagnostic methods, we have seen an increase in patients with solid pancreatic and cystic tumor injury, which allows us to make therapies before having symptoms, says the specialist.
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Treatment options
Early diagnosis and surgery are the best treatment alternative for this cancer. Unfortunately, this is rare because a significant percentage of patients have advanced lesions. "It is important to emphasize that these patients require multidisciplinary therapies (chemo and radiotherapy) that allow for spiritual results, no matter how advanced the pathology may be," says Dr. Felipe Puelma.
Cases of cystic lesions or cysts of the pancreas are important because they are susceptible to being or suffering from transformations into malignant tumors during their development. All of these lesions should be evaluated by specialists because appropriate therapy can prevent and heal patients who otherwise consult with advanced malignant lesions, he says. In these cases it can be indicated from the observation to the resection of the gland. It all depends on the type of injury.
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