Pancreatic Cancer starts in the cells of the pancreas. The pancreas is a large gland that lies behind your stomach deep in the upper part of the abdomen. The pancreas is also part of the hormonal system and makes insulin and other hormones. Hormones made in the pancreas enter the bloodstream and help your body use or store the energy (sugar and fat) from the food you eat. Most pancreatic cancers start in the ducts that carry pancreatic juices.
About this Cancer
According to the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) statistics for 2023, 7,200 cases of pancreatic cancer were diagnosed. Among the 7200 cases, 4,000 males and 3,200 females were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
Despite not being one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers, pancreatic cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death for both sexes combined because it’s mortality rate has changed very little over the past 35 years. Pancreatic cancer accounts for 7% of all cancer deaths in Canada and 89% of these deaths occur among Canadians aged 60 or older. An estimated 5,900 people died from pancreatic cancer in 2023.
The signs & symptoms of pancreatic cancer include:
- yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes (called jaundice)
- pain in the abdomen or back
- stool that is light coloured, funky smelling and floats in the toilet
- weight loss
- loss of appetite
- fatigue
- nausea and vomiting
- indigestion
- bloating
- dark yellow or brown urine
- fever
Sourced from: Canadian Cancer Society
Risk factors for pancreatic cancer include:
- Smoking
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Familial history of pancreatic cancer
- Particular genetic conditions (Hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome; Familial atypical multiple mole melanoma syndrome; Peutz-Jeghers syndrome; Lynch syndrome; Hereditary pancreatitis; Multiple Endocrine neoplasia type 1 and Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome)
- Chronic pancreatitis
- Alcohol use
For more information check out Pancreatic Cancer Canada
Pancreatic cancer is challenging to diagnose and treat because oftentimes symptoms do not show until the cancer has grown for some time. To diagnose pancreatic cancer, a variety of tests can be ordered by a physician to help make a well-timed and correct diagnosis. These may include the following:
- Bloodwork
- Ultrasound
- CT scan
- Serum tumor markers
- Biopsy
- Additional tests including Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), Positron Emission Tomography (PET scans)
For more information check out Craig’s Cause Pancreatic Cancer Society
- Radiation Therapy
- Multiple types of surgery, including:
- Pancreaticoduodenectomy (Whipple procedure: removal of the head of the pancreas, the gallbladder, a portion of of the duodenum, a small part of the stomach known as the antrum, and the lymph nodes close to the head of the pancreas).
- Total pancreatectomy (removal of the entire pancreas, gallbladder, common bile duct, parts of the small intestine and occasionally the spleen and lower part of your stomach).
- Distal Pancreatectomy: (removal of the tail of the pancreas and occasionally part of the body of the pancreas and may involve the removal of the spleen because of its proximity to the tail of the pancreas).
- Palliative Intent Surgery (used to reduce upsetting symptoms and make the patient more comfortable)
- Chemotherapy
- Clinical Trials
- Palliative/Supportive Care
For more information, check out Pancreatic Cancer Canada
Stories from Survivors
No current stories at the time. We currently do not have any pancreatic cancer stories. If you have any, please send them to us atinfo@survivornet.ca.
Resources
- Pancreatic Cancer An Overview
- Webinar on Exploring Grief and Moving Forward After a Pancreatic Cancer Diagnosis
- Pancreatic Cancer Canada Resources
- Supportive care for pancreatic patients
- Cancer Care Ontario
- Pancreatic Cancer Action Network Patient Services
- Pancreatic Cancer Patient Support Group
- Pancreatic Cancer Support
- Peer Support and Short-Term Counselling
- Pancreatic Cancer Nutrition: 12 Pancreatic Diet Tips
- After care information
- Ten Tips for Pancreatic Cancer Caregivers
- August 29th, 2024 – Johns Hopkins Researchers Identify Key Markers in Pancreatic Cancer Progression Using a New Analysis Pipeline – Johns Hopkins Medicine
- August 2nd, 2024 – Adding metastasis-directed radiation therapy boosts progression-free survival in metastatic pancreatic cancer – University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
- July 12th, 2024 – MSK Discovery Suggests Opportunity to Improve Effectiveness of KRAS Inhibitors Against Pancreatic Cancer – Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
- May 10th, 2024 – Blood Test Accurately Detects Early-Stage Pancreatic Cancer – National Cancer Institute
- June 1st, 2024 – Experimental Therapy Shows Promise in Pancreatic Cancer Clinical Trial – Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center
- April 23rd, 2024 – Trends in socioeconomic inequalities in pancreatic cancer mortality in Canada: Evidence from the Canadian Vital Statistics Death Database – Surgical Oncology Insight
- March 20, 2024 – Advancements in Pancreatic Cancer Detection: Integrating Biomarkers, Imaging Technologies, and Machine Learning for Early Diagnosis – Cureus
- April 7th 2024 – Investigational mRNA Vaccine Induced Persistent Immune Response in Phase 1 Trial of Patients With Pancreatic Cancer – Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
- October 7th, 2023 – Copycat nutrient leaves pancreatic tumors starving – Sanford Burnham Prebys
Pancreatic Cancer Groups
- Pancreatic Cancer Canada is a vibrant, progressive organization taking on the world’s toughest cancer with the ultimate goal to save more lives. We are committed to raising the survival rate through major investments in research and increased awareness of the disease among the general public and healthcare professionals, while ensuring patients and their families have access to the specialized care and support they need at every stage. For more information visit: Pancreatic Cancer Canada
- Craig’s Cause Pancreatic Cancer Society is a national charity dedicated to both increasing survival and improving the quality of life for every Canadian diagnosed with pancreatic cancer through awareness raising, education, support and research. For more information visit Craig’s Cause Pancreatic Cancer Society