Risk+Factors+for+Pancreatic+Cancer

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__ Statement of Project: __
Being the fourth leading cause of death by cancer in the U.S. and fifth in the entire world, Pancreatic Cancer has caught the attention of many individuals. For those with family members who have suffered from this cancer, the rapid deterioration of health is shocking, and for those individuals who both treat and research new treatments for it, the difficulty in stopping its course in the human body is a great challenge. Yet what causes an individual to obtain Pancreatic Cancer? Which individuals based on life styles and environment are predisposed to be get Pancreatic cancer? Is it avoidable? What measures should and can be taken to avoid its diagnosis? Our project tries to answer these questions through an in depth analysis of know environmental and genetic factors as well analyzing case studies to determine the best life choices one can make to strive towards a reduction in one's predisposition of obtaining pancreatic cancer.

__ What is Pancreatic Cancer? __
Pancreatic cancer is a cancer of the epithelial cells within the pancreas. Generally, there are two forms of pancreatic cancer, both beginning with abnormal cell growth within the pancreas. The type of cell which begins to grow abnormally determines which form of cancer the patient has; either an exocrine or endocrine tumor. The majority of pancreatic cancers are of the exocrine variety- only about 1% of diagnosed pancreatic cancers are endocrine tumors.

**Symptoms**
The most common symptoms include upper abdominal pain, jaundice, loss of appetite and weight loss, and depression. Thrombophlebitis, rash, and vomiting may present in some cases. Additionally, diabetes may be contracted as a result of a pancreatic tumor- "new data show that up to 80% of pancreatic cancer patients are either hyperglycemic or diabetic."

**Prognosis**
One of the most defining features of pancreatic cancer is its unusually poor prognosis in most patients. According to the Hirshberg Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research **,** "The one-year relative survival rate (of those diagnosed with pancreatic cancer) is 20%, and the five-year rate is 4%." Often times, typical symptoms of cancer do not appear in early stages of the tumor's development, and thus the growth goes undiagnosed until metastasis has occurred. A diagnosis at a stage this late often has grown and spread too much for any patient to be totally cured or experience complete remission.

**Treatment**
Pancreatic cancer is generally treated in one or a combination of the three following ways:

//Surgery//
A surgeon may attempt to physically remove the tumor, in the form of either a Whipple procedure, or a total or distal pancreatectomy. In many patients, surgery is not a viable option because by the time of diagnosis, the tumor has metastasized. Only 20% of patients will be eligible for surgical removal of tumors. All surgical methods of dealing with pancreatic cancer are long and complex, and have some risk associated with them. However, the mortality rate associated with Whipple procedure has dropped from over 25% in the 1970's to below 4% today.

//Radiation//
High energy [|x-rays] or other types of [|radiation] may be used to kill or limit the growth of cancer cells. Radiation is usually used in conjunction with chemotherapy, in cases where surgically removing the tumor is not possible/safe, or post-surgically to prevent recurring cancers.

//Chemotherapy//
Chemical drugs can be given to a patient orally, intravenously, or through an injection into cerebrospinal fluid, an organ, or a cavity, in order to combat the growth of cancer cells. Some of the drugs used to combat pancreatic cancer include 5-flouraracil, cisplatin, and mitomycin.

Did You Know?
Provided by the [|Hirshberg Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Resrearch.]
 * 94% of pancreatic cancer patients die withing the first five years and 74% will die within the first year alone
 * Average life expectancy is 3-4 months
 * One of the few cancers who's survival rate has not improved over the past 40 years due to its low detection rate and limited treatment options.
 * Surgical removal of tumors is only possible for about 15% of patients. All others will go directly to chemotherapy.
 * In 2009, only 2% of NCI research budget was placed towards pancreatic cancer.