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Pancreatic Cancer:

What is Pancreatic Cancer?

The pancreas is a gland located behind the stomach and in front of the spine. The pancreas produces digestive juices and hormones that regulate blood sugar. Cells called exocrine pancreas cells produce the digestive juices, while cells called endocrine pancreas cells produce the hormones.

The prognosis is relatively poor but has improved the three year survival rate is now about thirty percent, but less than 5 percent of those diagnosed are still alive five years after diagnosis.

The pancreas is a gland about 6 inches long that is shaped like a thin pear lying on its side. The wider end of the pancreas is called the head, the middle section is called the body, and the narrow end is called the tail.

The pancreas lies behind the stomach and in front of the spine,organs like the stomach, liver, spleen, gallbladder, and small intestine.

According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 38,000 people are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and about 34,000 people die from the disease each year.Because many patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer have a poor prognosis, it is very important that patients are offered the opportunity to participate in clinical trials. Patients who have pancreatic cancer should speak with a physician regarding clinical trials that are available.