What is pancreatic cancer?

Over 32,000 Americans are diagnosed each year with pancreatic cancer, most often in late-stage disease. The incidence in the US and Europe is rising for as-yet undetermined reasons, but may be linked to obesity and rising levels of environmental toxins.

The pancreas is a gland located behind the stomach and in front of the spine which produces digestive juices and hormones, including insulin and glucagon, which help control blood sugar levels. The pancreas is also crucial with helping the body store and use energy from food after it aids with digestion.

About 95% of all cases of pancreatic cancer begin in the cells that produce digestive juices, called exocrine pancreas cells. These cells are located in the head of the pancreas. Other pancreatic tumors begin in the islet or endocrine cells.

Pancreatic cancer is cancer found in the tissues of the pancreas, an organ located behind the lower part of the stomach. The pancreas extends horizontally across the abdomen, with the head of the pancreas located on the right side of the abdomen, behind the place where the stomach meets the duodenum (the first part of the small intestine).

The pancreas contains two different types of glands: exocrine and endocrine. The exocrine glands produce pancreatic "juice" that is released into the intestines. This juice contains enzymes, such as trypsin, chymotrypsin, pancreatic lipase, and pancreatic amylase, which help digest fats, proteins, and carbohydrates from food. Without these enzymes, food would pass through the intestines without being absorbed. The enzymes are released into tiny tubes called ducts; the tiny ducts form larger ducts that carry the pancreatic juice to the small intestine.

Endocrine cells constitute only approximately five percent of the cells in the pancreas. They are arranged in small clusters called islets or islets of Langerhans, which release two important hormones, insulin and glucagon, directly into the blood. Insulin controls the amount of sugar in the blood, while glucagon raises blood sugar levels.

According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), cancer of the pancreas is diagnosed in more than 29,000 people in the United States each year. Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the United States. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), about one in 76 Americans will eventually develop pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer is approximately twice as common in Europe as in the United States. This is attributed to factors such as increased smoking in European countries. Most cases occur in people over the age of 65; however, pancreatic cancer can occur in younger people, particularly those with a family history of the disease. Unfortunately, there are often no symptoms early on, making pancreatic cancer difficult to diagnose in its beginning stages.

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