Pancreatic cancer originates in the pancreas, a small gland located behind the stomach. The pancreas has two functions:
- It supplies the intestines with digestive juices. The enzymes in pancreatic juice break down fats and proteins so the body can use them for growth. The cells that perform this function are called exocrine cells.
- Endocrine cells in the pancreas control hormones. The islets of the pancreas secrete hormones, including insulin, that help regulate the amount of sugar in the blood.
Pancreatic cancer usually strikes people older than 60. It is more common in men than women, and more common in African Americans than whites or Asian Americans. It is usually incurable. Approximately 28,000 new cases are diagnosed every year in the United States, and 28,200 people will die of it. These statistics make it the fourth leading cause of cancer death in men and women.
Three of every 10 cases of pancreatic cancer are linked to smoking. A high-fat diet heavy with meats increases the risk as well. A healthful diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables, as well as quitting smoking, may help reduce the risk.
Exocrine cells outnumber endocrine cells 99 to 1 in the pancreas. At least 90 percent of pancreatic cancers are exocrine cell cancers. Endocrine cell cancers, or islet cell carcinomas, grow more slowly than exocrine cell cancers. They are usually more treatable as well.
Early pancreatic cancer has few symptoms. Signs of this cancer are usually attributed to benign digestive disorders, so the disease is rarely detected before it has metastasized to other tissues and organs via the lymphatic system or bloodstream. Endocrine cancer may be detected early if the cells produce abnormal amounts of hormones, but this happens very rarely.
