Pancreatic cancer/Cancer of the pancreas
goodtoknow says: Pancreatic cancer can be cured if it's caught early, thanks to advanced medical treatments. Cancer of the pancreas is common in the UK, around 7,000 new cases are diagnosed each year, usually in people over 60. However, symptoms are often vague, everything from stomach pain especially when eating, to nausea, pale stools and jaundice. They can be confused with other conditions such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome, gallstones or even stress. So it's important to get checked out by a doctor. If the tumour is small it can be removed and you could be cured.
For a full medical explanation of the causes, symptoms and treatments of cancer of the pancreas from patient.co.uk, read on.
Cancer of the pancreas mainly occurs in people over 60. If it is diagnosed at an early stage, then an operation to remove the cancer gives some chance of a cure. In general, the more advanced the cancer (the more it has grown and spread), the less chance that treatment will be curative. However, treatment can often slow the progress of the cancer.
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joanne, over 2 years
my father was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer back in August this year. He was advised that an operation would be an option, which all the family were hopeful. When they tried to operate they saw that the cancer had spread to the liver. Chemo is the nest optionhowever have been advised it wont cure. Dad is 66 and an active man, its heartbreaking to know that deep down he isnt ever going to be well.
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siobhan, about 1 year
Hi Joanne, i am sorry to hear about your father.My partner was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last march2006.He was given an operation called the whipples,all went well after5 hours on the table but unfortunately we where told it had spread to his lymph nodes.He had to have 6 months chemo which was bad in itself.We had a great christmas and all was looking well.We went to spain on holiday had a lovely time,when we came back at the end of march we found the tumour had returned.Ivan passed away on the 3rd july he was only 56,it is a terrible thing to have.Make the most of your time with your father it happened that quick with ivan i hadnt time.He was supposed to have radio therapy to try and shrink the tumour but it was too late it made him sick but it was the cancer had spread to his stomach.Make sure the doctors tell you everything they didnt tell me and i feel very angry,take care siobhan
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