Comm156 Final

Pancreatic Cancer

Diane E George

COM156

March 17, 2012

Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer has taken the lives of many famous people: Patrick Swayze, Steve Jobs, and Ben Gazzara to name a few. These are the famous people about whom we hear, but an estimated 38,000 people succumb to this cancer every year (Broudo, 2012). Most people do not even know they have this kind of cancer until it is more advanced. Although some cancers present more obvious symptoms in their earlier stages, pancreatic cancer does not. As a result, this cancer is difficult to diagnose and is known to have a low survival rate.

Pancreatic cancer is a disease characterized by abnormal growth of the cells in the pancreas (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2012). The pancreas is a six-inch long gland behind the stomach deep inside the abdominal cavity (White, 2012). The pancreas serves two purposes, as it is made up of two different tissues with separate functions. The first tissue, called the exocrine pancreas, secretes the enzymes into the digestive track that helps aid in the breakdown of fats and proteins. The second tissue, the endocrine pancreas, is where the body obtains insulin and glucagon (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2012). These agents are important to help maintain and control blood sugar levels. Although there are two different tissues, it is possible to get three different types of cancer (American Cancer Society, 2012).

Types of Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer can strike in three forms. The most common form of cancer in 90–95 percent of all patients is exocrine tumors (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2012). The remaining five percent of patients get a less common cancer called endocrine tumors. A rare and special type of pancreatic cancer that is associated with the liver and small intestine is called ampullary cancer. This type affects only five percent of patients (American Cancer Society, 2012). All of these cancers have few or no early symptoms, which makes...