Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic carcinoma is the type of cancer / pancreatic cancer more common - 90% of cases of malignant neoplasm of this organ. Currently, corresponds to the 5th cause of death from malignancy in the West. Data from the National Cancer Institute (INCA) to pose as 2% of all cancers and 4% of all cancer deaths. It is a high mortality rate due to late diagnosis and its characteristic extremely aggressive. The mean survival at 5 years is less than 0.4% after diagnosis life time average is 4 to 6 months. If the tumor is resectable median survival at 5 years is less than 20%, on average 13 to 20 months of life after surgery. Slightly more common in men and in blacks more. Rare before age 30, more common after age 60.
Treatment
Pancreatic cancer, in most cases it is very difficult to treat. The cure is only possible when detected early, but by the absence of symptoms in its early stages, pancreatic cancer often spreads before making a diagnosis. For these cases, there are palliative treatments aimed at improving the quality of life of the patient.
Surgery
Surgery is still the only curative treatment in pancreatic cancer. The surgical procedure will depend on factors such as the patient's symptoms, type, location and stage of the cancer. The head of the pancreas, duodenum, stomach and part of the surrounding tissues may be removed during surgery. A total pancreatectomy is the complete removal of the pancreas, duodenum, bile duct, gallbladder, spleen, and nearby lymph nodes. Most often, the cancer can not be removed completely. Even so, surgery can relieve symptoms very painful and unpleasant, which occur when the tumor compresses the duodenum or blocks the bile duct. Depending on the outcome of the surgery may be advised to undergo further chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Radiotherapy
Radiation therapy may be used to attack cancer cells, thereby preventing the tumor grow or even as a pre-surgical, to cause the decrease tumor size that it could be removed.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy may be used alone or in conjunction with radiation therapy to reduce the tumor, relieve symptoms and also as post-surgical.
When there are no conditions for surgery, treatment of pancreatic cancer is palliative and includes in addition to chemotherapy, the use of medications and procedures for relief of symptoms. In some cases of pancreatic cancer radiotherapy is used, it can be used concomitantly with chemotherapy.
The treatment of patients with advanced pancreatic cancer has progressed in recent years with the advent of effective medications and optimal tolerance. Considering that most often confront a type of cancer that is incurable, it is very important to avoid the most treatment-associated morbidity without compromising treatment success. Despite not allow healing, available options allow a good balance between efficacy and few side effects, which improves quality of life.
Prevention
According to the American Cancer Society, there are no established guidelines for preventing pancreatic cancer, although cigarette smoking has been reported to account for 20-30% of pancreatic cancer.
The ACS recommends keeping a healthy weight and increase consumption of fruits, vegetables and whole grains while decreasing red meat intake, although there is no consistent evidence that it will prevent or reduce pancreatic cancer specifically.
In 2006 a large prospective cohort study of over 80,000 subjects failed to prove a definitive association. Evidence to support this is found mainly in small case-control studies.
Several studies, including one published in June 1, 2007, indicate that B vitamins like B12 and B6, folic acid can reduce the risk of pancreatic cancer when consumed in food, but not when ingested in vitamin tablet form.