Pancreatic cancer is a condition that leads to the growth and multiplication of cancerous cells in the pancreas. It is the ninth most commonly diagnosed form of cancer in women and the 10th most common type of cancer in men across the country. It is estimated that in 2019, as many as 56,000 people will be diagnosed with this condition.

Types of pancreatic cancer
The pancreas is a gland that secretes digestive enzymes and hormones. It is located between the spine and the stomach. It has two types of cells — exocrine and endocrine. Depending on whether the tumor lies on the ducts of the pancreas or the hormone-producing cells, the condition can be classified as exocrine and endocrine.

Exocrine pancreatic cancer is the most common type of pancreatic cancer. The tumor develops in the ducts of the pancreas. Pancreatic adenocarcinoma accounts for about 95% of cancer cases of the exocrine pancreas. Other forms of exocrine cancers are adenosquamous carcinomas, squamous cell carcinomas, and signet ring cell carcinomas.

Endocrine pancreatic cancer or neuroendocrine tumors are tumors that develop in the neuroendocrine cells or hormone-producing cells of the pancreas. It is a less common type and accounts for less than 5% of pancreatic cancer cases.

Symptoms
The signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer may not appear until the disease has advanced to a severe stage. Additionally, the symptoms may be mistaken for those of other diseases.

Some of the signs of pancreatic cancer are:

• Pain in the upper abdomen
• Loss of appetite and weight loss
• Depression and anxiety
• Change in the color of stools and urine
• New-onset diabetes
• Fatigue
• Jaundice
• Nausea
• Pancreatitis

If one or more of these symptoms are present, then it is best to seek medical aid.

Causes
The exact cause of pancreatic cancer is not known. In most cases, inherited DNA changes and exposure to harmful substances are responsible for the development of cancer. Most cases of pancreatic cancer occur randomly or due to factors like smoking, obesity, or aging. Hereditary factors also determine the risk a person faces of developing this condition.

Some common causes of pancreatic cancer are:

• Diabetes
• Smoking
• Obesity
• Family history of genetic syndromes associated with pancreatic cancer
• Overconsumption of red meat
• Old age

Diagnosis
It is difficult to diagnose pancreatic cancer because of the location of the pancreas. The pancreas is located deep in the abdomen, behind organs like the stomach, small intestine, liver, gallbladder, spleen, and bile ducts. So, it may be hard for doctors to locate the tumor during a physical examination. A doctor will usually conduct the tests for detecting, diagnosing, and staging cancer together. Some of the imaging techniques used to identify a tumor in the pancreas are:

• Physical examination
• MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
• CT Scan
• PET scan (Positron Emission Tomography scan)
• Endoscopic ultrasound
• Abdominal ultrasound
• Laparoscopy
• Biopsy

Treatment
After the condition is diagnosed, a doctor will determine the right course of action based on the following factors:

• Whether the tumor can be removed
• The stage of cancer
• The patient’s general health

The presence of stroma, a dense tissue layer that surrounds pancreatic tumors, may also lead to difficulties in treating pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer, if identified in the early stages, can be treated through surgery. But as the symptoms are less evident, in most patients, it is only diagnosed in the late stages.

Targeted therapy is used to block specific mutations, but as of now, these medicines have not been developed for pancreatic cancer.

Prevention
In many cases, hereditary factors can play a crucial role in the development of this condition. But one can reduce the risk of pancreatic cancer by following these tips:

• Quit smoking
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Choose a healthy diet
• Limit alcohol use
• Limit exposure to toxic chemicals