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Other Health Topics:
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Related Topics
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Go Local
- Services and providers for Pancreatic Cancer in the U.S.
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National Institutes of Health
- The primary NIH organization for research on Pancreatic Cancer is the National Cancer Institute
Pancreatic Cancer
The pancreas is a gland behind your stomach and in front of your spine. It produces juices that help break down food and hormones that help control blood sugar levels. Cancer of the pancreas is the fourth-leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. Some risk factors for developing pancreatic cancer include
- Smoking
- Long-term diabetes
- Chronic pancreatitis
- Certain hereditary disorders
Pancreatic cancer is hard to catch early. It doesn't cause symptoms right away. When you do get symptoms, they are often vague or you may not notice them. They include yellowing of the skin and eyes, pain in the abdomen and back, weight loss and fatigue. Also, because the pancreas is hidden behind other organs, health care providers cannot see or feel the tumors during routine exams. Because it is often found late and it spreads quickly, pancreatic cancer can be hard to treat. Possible treatments include surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.
National Cancer Institute
Start Here
- What Is Cancer of the Pancreas?(American Cancer Society)
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What You Need to Know about Cancer of the Pancreas
(National Cancer Institute)
| Basics | Learn More | Multimedia & Cool Tools |
|---|---|---|
| Research | Reference Shelf | For You |
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Overviews
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JAMA Patient Page: Pancreatic Cancer(American Medical Association)
Also available in Spanish
- Pancreatic Cancer Frequently Asked Questions(Lorenzen Cancer Foundation)
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JAMA Patient Page: Pancreatic Cancer(American Medical Association)
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Latest News
- Genetic Mutations Linked to Deadly Cancers(09/04/2008, HealthDay)
- More Cancer Lymph Nodes Analyzed at Specialty Centers(07/22/2008, HealthDay)
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Diagnosis/Symptoms
- Amylase Test(American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
- CA 19-9 (Cancer Antigen 19-9)(American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
- Can Pancreatic Cancer Be Found Early?(American Cancer Society)
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ERCP (Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography)(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
- How Is Pancreatic Cancer Diagnosed?(American Cancer Society)
- How Is Pancreatic Cancer Staged?(American Cancer Society)
- Metastasis(Johns Hopkins University, Dept. of Pathology)
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Treatment
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Islet Cell Carcinoma (Endocrine Pancreas) (PDQ): Treatment(National Cancer Institute)
Also available in Spanish
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Pancreatic Cancer (PDQ): Treatment(National Cancer Institute)
Also available in Spanish
- Pancreatic Cancer: Surgery(American Cancer Society)
- Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer by Stage(American Cancer Society)
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Islet Cell Carcinoma (Endocrine Pancreas) (PDQ): Treatment
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Prevention/Screening
- What Are Risk Factors for Pancreatic Cancer?(Johns Hopkins University, Dept. of Pathology)
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Alternative Therapy
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Complementary Therapy(National Pancreas Foundation)
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Gonzalez Regimen (PDQ)(National Cancer Institute)
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Nutrition
- How Are Diet & Exercise Affected?(Johns Hopkins University, Dept. of Pathology)
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Disease Management
- Palliative and Supportive Care(American Cancer Society)
- Pancreatic Cancer: What Happens After Treatment?(American Cancer Society)
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Specific Conditions
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Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
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Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome
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Related Issues
- What Questions Should I Ask My Doctor?(Johns Hopkins University, Dept. of Pathology)
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Health Check Tools
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Pancreatic Cancer Risk Questionnaire(Harvard Center for Cancer Prevention)
Also available in Spanish
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Pancreatic Cancer Risk Questionnaire(Harvard Center for Cancer Prevention)
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Videos
- Advances in Pancreatic Cancer Care(OR-Live) - Requires Flash Player - One hour program - 9/18/2007
- Endoscopic Ultrasound Procedure with Needle Biopsy(OR-Live) - Requires media player - One hour program - 3/22/2007
- Whipple Procedure for Pancreatic Cancer(OR-Live) - Requires Flash Player - One hour program - 1/07/2008
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Anatomy/Physiology
- What Is the Pancreas?(Johns Hopkins University, Dept. of Pathology)
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Clinical Trials
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Carcinoma, Islet Cell(National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Pancreatic Neoplasms(National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Carcinoma, Islet Cell
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Genetics
- Is Pancreatic Cancer Hereditary?(Johns Hopkins University, Dept. of Pathology)
- Juvenile Polyposis Syndrome(American Society of Clinical Oncology)
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Research
- Chemo After Surgery Slows Pancreatic Recurrence(American Cancer Society)
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Gemcitabine after Pancreatic Cancer Surgery Improves Survival(National Cancer Institute)
- What's New in Pancreatic Cancer Research and Treatment?(American Cancer Society)
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Journal Articles
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Comparison of hyper-fractionated accelerated and standard fractionated radiotherapy with concomitant...
- Article: Adenosquamous carcinoma of the pancreas: a single-institution experience comparing resection...
- Article: Molecular targeted therapies for pancreatic cancer.
- Pancreatic Cancer -- see more articles
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Dictionaries/Glossaries
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Dictionary of Cancer Terms(National Cancer Institute)
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Dictionary of Cancer Terms
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Directories
- American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy: Find a Doctor(American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy)
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National Cancer Institute Cancer Centers Program(National Cancer Institute)
Also available in Spanish
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Organizations
- American Cancer Society
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National Cancer Institute
- National Pancreas Foundation
- Pancreatica(Lorenzen Cancer Foundation)
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Statistics
- What Are the Key Statistics about Pancreatic Cancer?(American Cancer Society)
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Date last updated: 05 September 2008 Topic last reviewed: 06 March 2008 |