Pancreatic cancer prognosis grim for most
There are quite a few risk factors for developing pancreatic cancer, but they are relatively low for people below the age of forty. It isn’t until a person reaches their sixties that they become at higher risk because of increasing age, and other risk factors like smoking, high intake of fat and meat in the diet, or a history of cirrhosis of the liver, chronic pancreatitis, or diabetes. Previous surgeries to the upper digestive tract, environmental toxins, and long-term exposure to gasoline, insecticides, or a genetic predisposition are all significant contributing factors. Once pancreatic cancer has developed the symptoms may be vague; loss of appetite, weight loss, abdominal discomfort and nausea, jaundice, itching, and elevated liver enzymes and bilirubin levels. Pancreatic cancer treatment options depend greatly on how far the disease has advanced. Surgical resection is an option if the tumor hasn’t become metastatic, and if not, and the tumor is locally advanced, then a combination of chemotherapy and radiation are prescribed. For advanced cases of cancer of the pancreas, chemotherapy is recommended because it is better than no therapy at all in the eyes of some oncologists.
Full article at Pancreatic Cancer
Last modified July 10, 2007Author 1343 > has blogged 279 times
