What is Pancreatic Cancer?
Malignant masses that tend to proliferate in any part of the pancreas are called pancreatic cancer.
What are the Symptoms of Pancreatic Cancer?
Pancreatic cancer can progress insidiously without any symptoms in its initial stages. However, the most common pancreatic cancer symptoms that started to appear in the later stages are; symptoms such as weight loss, abdominal pain, jaundice, loss of appetite, nausea-vomiting, weakness, fatigue, diarrhea, indigestion, back pain, glass paste-colored stools, pallor, sudden onset diabetes without a family history. Rapid weight loss is seen in patients as a result of malnutrition along with bloating, indigestion and loss of appetite.
How is Pancreatic Cancer Diagnosed?
Diagnosis can be difficult, especially in the early stages, as the disease presents with insidious symptoms. Diagnostic methods used in suspected patients;
Ultrasonography: Ultrasonography is the first examination method to be used in the suspicion of pancreatic cancer. The presence of a hard or cystic mass in the pancreas gives information about the size of the mass, its relationship with other surrounding structures, and its proximity to vascular structures.
Laboratory tests: Serum bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, liver transaminases and values such as CEA, CA19-9 and CA-125 were increased.
Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MR): CT gives very important information about pancreatic tumors when taken orally and intravenously with contrast medication. It has a diagnostic feature of approximately 95% or more. MR imaging is also important in the differential diagnosis of the tumor.
How is Pancreatic Cancer Treated?
At the end of the examinations for the treatment of pancreatic cancer, the stage of the pancreatic tumor, its relationship with neighboring organs, especially whether it has spread to adjacent vessels and/or distant organs, and the chance of surgical removal are evaluated. Surgery cannot be performed in advanced tumors. Along with the chemotherapy to be applied to these patients, some interventions can be applied to improve the comfort of life by correcting the existing jaundice, providing nutritional support and reducing pain.
Surgical Treatment: If the tumor is suitable for surgical removal, 'Whipple surgery' is performed. In addition, if the tumor is located in the body and tail of the pancreas, relatively easier resection methods can be applied. Surgical removal of the tumor is the only cure for these patients. In pancreatic head tumors, surgery is more complicated since it is not possible to surgically remove only the head of the pancreas. In Whipple's surgery; Together with the head of the pancreas, the gallbladder, part of the main bile duct, duodenum, part of the stomach and surrounding lymph nodes are removed as a block.