Everything You Wanted To Know About Pancreatic Cancer

Posted On July 21, 2023

You would have often heard people say that they have diabetes – a disease in which the glucose levels in your bloodstream aren’t well-regulated and are on the higher side of the spectrum. Pancreas – an organ responsible for regulating glucose levels in the bloodstream – produces insulin and processes sugars, fats, and starch. Oftentimes, it gets diseased and can’t function normally, resulting in many pancreatic disorders. While diabetes is very common, another pancreatic disorder – pancreatic cancer – is not. And since it isn’t very common, there’s a lot of ignorance regarding the disease such as whether pancreatic cancer is curable, or whether laparoscopic surgery in Surat for pancreatic cancer is feasible? And so on.

Let’s find the answers to some of these questions in this blog.

What is the pancreas?

The pancreas is an elongated conical organ located behind the abdomen. It is part of the digestive system and plays an important role in breaking down ingested food. Apart from being an organ, the pancreas is also a gland since it produces and releases certain substances that aid in digestion and regulate blood sugar levels.

What are its functions?

The pancreas is responsible for two different functions in our body:

Endocrine Function: The endocrine gland in the pancreas secretes hormones like insulin and glucagon. These hormones regulate the level of glucose in the bloodstream. Another hormone known as somatostatin restricts the release of insulin and glucose.
Exocrine Function: The exocrine function produces enzymes that aid in digestion by breaking down carbohydrates, fats, etc.

Symptoms of pancreatic cancer:

Tumours may develop on the pancreas that may or may not be cancerous. Pancreatic cancer is curable in its initial stages. However, it is seldom detected at the curable stage since pancreatic cancer doesn’t show any symptoms (apart from a general yellowing of skin which usually goes unnoticed) until cancer has already progressed to an advanced stage. But when it does, pancreatic cancer can have symptoms like:

Abdominal pain that seems more like back pain, which often comes and goes
Unintentional weight loss
Loss of appetite
Yellowing of skin and the whites of the eyes
Bloating
Nausea
Worsening diabetes or recently diagnosed diabetes
Fatigue
Itchy skin
Dark coloured urine
Light coloured stool

Causes of pancreatic cancer:

There are no definite answers as to what causes pancreatic cancer. But researchers have identified some behavioural risk factors that can be associated with pancreatic cancer:

Obesity
Diabetes related to obesity, especially type 2
Smoking
Consuming large amounts of alcohol regularly
Chronic pancreatitis
Frequent exposure to chemicals that are used in dry cleaning or chemicals used by metal workers.

Certain uncontrollable risk factors that may result in pancreatic cancer are:

Ageing (most people are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer after the age of 45)
Genetic mutation (somatic mutation)
Family history of pancreatic cancer (hereditary)

How serious is a pancreatic tumour?

Pancreatic tumours are only serious if they are cancerous. Tumours that are benign – meaning they are non-cancerous – are not life-threatening. Benign pancreatic tumours do not spread to other organs. They are surgically taken out and generally do not reoccur.

If the tumour is cancerous and has not metastasized – meaning it hasn’t spread to other organs and blood vessels – it can be removed through surgery and a combination of chemotherapy and radiation is followed thereafter.

It should be noted that, determining the stage of pancreatic cancer is often difficult and tricky since the imaging tests do not provide exact information about the spread of cancer.

To know the advancement of pancreas cancer patients need to consult a pancreatic cancer surgeon, who will be able to diagnose whether the tumour is cancerous or not.

Can a person live without pancreas?

Yes, a person can live after taking out the pancreas. But pancreas surgery is extremely tricky since the pancreas is positioned near major blood vessels.

However, after taking the pancreas out, it becomes mandatory for the person to take enzyme medications that aid digestion and insulin shots to regulate glucose levels in the blood for as long as he lives. The pancreas is removed in an exceptionally rare situation like severe pancreatitis, major injury to the pancreas or pancreatic cancer.

What is laparoscopic pancreatic surgery?

Laparoscopic pancreatic surgery involves a minimally invasive procedure. In this procedure, a flexible tube with a camera and a light attached to its end is inserted into the abdomen through small incisions made on the stomach. This is known as a laparoscope. The light and camera enable the surgeon to see inside the abdomen. The pancreatic tumour, whether it is cancerous or non-cancerous, is taken out. In some cases, this procedure is also performed to take out the tail of the pancreas. Laparoscopic pancreatic surgery is known as laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy.

Pancreatic surgery in Surat is performed at the SIDS hospital and research centre. The hospital has some of the best laparoscopic surgeons in Surat with tons of experience and advanced infrastructure.

What type of foods can we eat after pancreatic surgery?

The patient usually faces the dilemma of what kinds of food to eat and what to avoid after pancreatic surgery. Follow this simple guide to eating after pancreatic surgery:

Immediately after surgery:

If the patient has a j-tube, the patient is fed through the tube as per the instructions of the surgeon
This is then advanced to an oral diet like fruit and vegetable juices
Gradually, oral foods are replaced with semi-solid and solid foods once the patient develops tolerance
Eating fried food, raw fruits and vegetables is generally not encouraged at this stage
Short frequent meals are recommended

Foods to eat once the patient has recovered from surgery:

Intake of healthy fats such as nuts, seeds, avocados, peanut oil, and olive oil is recommended
Restrict the intake of fried, greasy, high-fat foods to small quantities or avoid them completely
Small frequent meals are encouraged to prevent feeling full
Taking pancreatic enzyme replacement medication is a must
Avoid alcoholic beverages and processed foods
Consult a dietician for better nutritional support

What is the recovery time in pancreatic surgery?

Recovery after pancreatic surgery is slow and steady. You can return to your routine in about a month. However, your body may take around 2 to 3 months to regain its strength. In the case of pancreatic cancer, you may need to follow up with additional treatments like chemotherapy or radiation therapy.