Chemotherapy Support Group For Patients with Pancreatic Cancer
Patient & Caregiver Services for People Living with Pancreatic Cancer
Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest types of cancer. It tends to strike men twice as often as it does women, although more women are diagnosed with this cancer each year. Pancreatic cancer often does not show many symptoms up until it reaches its advanced stages.
Even when the cancer has reached its late stages, some of its most common symptoms are: sudden loss of appetite, fatigue. They may also include: unexplained weight gain. Pancreatitis, also known as peptic ulcer, is one of the symptoms that often come up in patients who have had cancer.
Pancreatic cancer is also a serious condition, and the sooner you are diagnosed with it, the better chances of being cured. If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, you should see a doctor right away. Doctors do not treat cancers in the pancreas. The treatment of pancreatic cancer involves surgery. In addition, chemotherapy can also be used to treat pancreatic cancer.
The cancer may be found in the liver, the spleen, or even the small intestine. In most cases, however, it does not spread to other organs and areas, so the cancer in the pancreas often dies off naturally without any treatment. When the pancreas cancer does become a malignancy, however, the prognosis for survival is much better. If caught early, the survival rate is very good.
There are several symptoms of pancreatic cancer. The most common of them is the sudden loss of appetite, which happens suddenly, and the patient becomes depressed and may even cry. Patients with pancreatic cancer may have difficulty swallowing, bowel movements may become difficult and may bleed easily. If you think you might have this cancer, talk to your doctor immediately, especially if you experience any of these symptoms.
If your doctor can't diagnose pancreatic cancer on its own, he will most likely need to conduct tests and perform surgery. He may want to conduct a biopsy or a blood test.
During the procedure, doctors will also take into consideration the levels of pancreatic acid, albumin and bile acid, try to measure the amount of protein, and a test called immunofluorescence. that helps to determine whether pancreatic cancer is present. Sometimes doctors may also want to perform an ultrasound that helps determine whether the tumor is benign or malignant.
Pancreatic cancer that is malignant can be removed through surgery, but pancreatic cancer that spreads to other parts of your body may require treatment with chemotherapy. Chemotherapy works by removing the cancer and the symptoms associated with it. Surgery is usually recommended for patients with more aggressive forms of pancreatic cancer.
Chemotherapy has several side effects. The biggest ones include the following:
vomiting, nausea, abdominal discomfort, fatigue, constipation, diarrhea, dizziness, bleeding and skin rash. Nausea is one of the side effects, but it does not go away after a time. Blood clots can form and become quite large, and they can interfere with blood vessel functions.
Some patients cannot tolerate chemotherapy treatment. You should tell your doctor right away if you experience any of the following symptoms: constipation, fever, vomiting, loss of appetite, vomiting or bloating, weight loss, or anemia. Bleeding and bruising may occur. {S1 Sometimes, people who take chemotherapy may experience a reduced sense of smell or taste in their mouth or a yellow color of the lips and fingernails.
Chemotherapy may cause nausea or vomiting, as well as fatigue, nausea and vomiting. You should never stop chemo until the end of your medication.
If you have pancreatic cancer, your doctor may prescribe medicine that contains chemotherapy agents. This medicine is called carboplatin and it's used for chemotherapy of pancreatic cancer. In addition to the drugs, doctors often recommend nutritional support and diet.
While chemotherapy is sometimes used to treat pancreatic cancer, a surgical procedure called a pancreatectomy is sometimes required. A physician will remove the pancreas and the small intestine through an incision, leaving only one gland. The pancreatic duct is closed and is no longer involved in producing insulin. The gland may continue to produce insulin for a while until it's no longer needed.
However, chemotherapy is not always enough to treat pancreatic cancer. There are a variety of treatments available that can help to reduce the damage caused by pancreatic cancer.
RESOURCES
Cancer Connect
Pancreatic Cancer Therapy
Pancreatic Cancer Support Group UK
Pancreas Foundation