The pancreas is a gland, about six inches long, located in the abdomen. It is surrounded by the stomach, small intestine, liver and spleen. It is shaped like a flat pear. The wide end of the pancreas is called the head, the middle section is the body, and the thin end is the tail. The uncinate process is the part of the gland that bends backwards and underneath the head of the pancreas.

The pancreas has two main functions. One function is called the exocrine function. This involves the production of
enzymes that help in digestion.

The second function of the pancreas is the endocrine
function, which involves the production of the two hormones insulin and glucagon. Islet cells within the pancreas produce and secrete insulin and glucagon into the bloodstream. These hormones work together to maintain the proper level of sugar in the blood.

When cells in the pancreas grow out of control, a tumor
develops. In most cases of pancreatic cancer, the cells that
line the pancreatic duct are involved. This type of pancreatic cancer is an exocrine tumor known as adenocarcinoma. A less common type of pancreatic tumor begins in the islet cells of the pancreas and is known as an endocrine tumor.

An estimated 42,470 people will be diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer and approximately 35,240 will die from this horrible disease.Every 14 minutes someone in the United States is diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer. Pancreatic cancer is the 4th leading cause of cancer death in the United States.The number of Americans diagnosed each year of pancreatic cancer continues
to rise. Other leading cancers where an investment in early detection has led to a decrease in cancer incidences. It is the 3rd leading cause of cancer death among 40-59 year old men. For all stages of pancreatic cancer combined, the five year survival rate is only 5%; the lowest survival rate of all major cancers. The average life expectancy after diagnosis with metastatic disease is just 3-6
months. 52% of pancreatic cancer patients are diagnosed with metastatic. Pancreatic cancer affects both men and women of all races and varying ages. Men are 20% more likely to develop cancer of the pancreas than women. African Americans are 40-50% more likely to develop cancer of the pancreas than Caucasians. Currently, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) spends less than 2% of their budget on pancreatic cancer research. It generally takes patients seven months to get a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer is treatable when caught early; the vast majority of cases are not diagnosed until too late. Pancreatic cancer is difficult to diagnose. Symptoms are often vague and easily confused with other diseases. We need to invest in the development of an effective screening test.

Pain in abdomen and/or back

Jaundice – a yellowing of the skin and eyes

Digestive difficulties, including significant loss of appetite, indigestion and nausea

Significant unexplained weight loss

Ascites – abnormal build up of fluid in the abdominal cavity

Changes in stools, including diarrhea or constipation

Diabetes

If someone is experiencing one or more of these symptoms, it does not mean that they have pancreatic cancer. There are other medical problems or conditions
that may also cause these or similar symptoms. Therefore, anyone experiencing these symptoms should consult with his/her doctor. Only a doctor can diagnose
the cause of an individual’s symptoms.

Abdomen - The part of the body between the ribs and the hips. Containing the following organs: stomach, liver, gall bladder, spleen, intestines, pancreas, kidneys and bladder.

Adenocarcinoma - The most common type of pancreatic cancer involving the cells lining the pancreatic duct which produce enzymes for digestion.

Exocrine function - of the pancreas is to produce three types of enzymes that aid in the digestion of food

Glucagon - A hormone produced by the pancreas that increases the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood.

Insulin - A hormone made by the islet cells of the pancreas. Insulin controls the amount of sugar in the blood.

Uncinate Procedure - The portion of the pancreas that folds
backward and underneath the pancreas head.

Cancer occurs when cells in a part of the body begin to grow out of control. Normal cells divide and grow in an orderly fashion, but cancer cells do not. They continue to grow and crowd out normal cells. Although there are many kinds of cancer, they all have in common this out-of-control growth of cells.

Sometimes cancer cells break away from a tumor and spread to other parts of the body through the blood or lymph system. They can settle in new places and form new tumors. When this happens, it is called metastasis (meh-tas-tuh-sis). Cancer that has spread in this way is called metastatic cancer.