A tumor or pancreatic cancer is a malady during which malignant cells are formed. They gradually multiply uncontrolled. And as a result, the body completely atrophies.
A tumor can form in any part of the pancreas. Most often, the head of the organ is susceptible to cancer. Scientifically, this type of tumors is called periampulant. It is considered one of the most dangerous species, since it is almost inoperable. Only 5% of patients undergo resection. Experts predict the outcome of this type of tumors unfavorable. Usually, after setting such a diagnosis, the average survival is about 6 months.
At least, in medical practice, there is cancer of the body of the pancreas. Unlike the previous type of tumors, patients with a long term do not feel the development of the disease. And only in the last stages, the patient can feel the general symptoms of malaise. For example: weakness, decreased appetite, slight discomfort in the abdomen. This meager and belated symptomatology is due to the fact that the tumor concentrates in the body remotely from the bile ducts.
Pancreatic tail cancer is also quite difficult to diagnose. A feature of this type of tumor is the rapid development of metastases. As a result, the life span of patients who have been diagnosed with this ailment does not exceed one year. Unlike previous types of cancer, in most cases, tumors are operable. During resection, the tail of the organ is removed completely. Due to the fact that the tumor develops over the entire surface of this part of the pancreas. In addition, the spleen is also removed, since the vessels through which its blood supply occurs are associated with the pancreas. Due to this, the probability of developing metastases is high.
Often, the tumor is formed in the neck of the pancreas. This tumor is also less dangerous than the cancer of the head. This type is also operable. But, often, along with the affected neck, part of the stomach, bile duct is removed. In a number of cases, the gallbladder and duodenum are removed.
Chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer
Recently, it has been scientifically proven that patients who have been diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis are 15 times more likely to suffer from oncological diseases.
The mechanism of cancer development in patients with pancreatitis can be described as follows. From the inflamed epithelium develop malignant formations. Regular inflammatory processes in pancreatitis disrupt all metabolic processes in the gland tissues. This, in turn, further damages the cells of the diseased organ. As a result, there is metaplasia, or, more simply, cell degeneration. The tumor of this organ quite often forms metastases. They concentrate in the liver, lungs, kidneys.
As for the place of cancer localization against the background of chronic pancreatitis, specialists call the head of the pancreas. In 80% of all cases of head cancer diagnosis, patients suffered from pancreatitis.
What does pancreatic and liver cancer look like?
Most often, metastases, regardless of the primary site of tumor concentration, are formed in the liver. Similar structures in the liver are found in patients with a diagnosis of "pancreatic cancer".
Doctors pay attention to the fact that in medical practice, metastatic liver cancer is diagnosed more often than primary pancreatic tumors. Often, it is he who is the first clinical manifestation and symptom of a tumor.
The initial stages of metastasis of pancreatic cancer into the liver proceed almost asymptomatically. There are only general nonspecific signs: anorexia, a sharp decrease in body weight. In later stages, there is pain in the right scapula, thorax.
The prognosis of liver metastasis in pancreatic cancer depends on the degree of malignancy of the tumor.
New in the treatment of pancreatic cancer
The peculiarity of pancreatic tumors, regardless of the place of concentration, is their painlessness and asymptomatic. That complicates the process of their diagnosis and therapy. To date, such traditional types of treatment are used:
- operation;
- chemotherapy;
- target and radiation therapy.
The choice of a particular type of treatment depends on the stage of the disease. But, at the same time, scientists around the world are conducting research aimed at developing new forms and means of treatment. In particular, special vaccines are one of the last tools that have been developed. This is a novelty in the treatment of pancreatic cancer.
To date, in Israel, doctors who are widely specializing in the treatment of tumors of various genesis and site localization, conduct clinical trials of the vaccine. The purpose of the drug is to stimulate the patient's immune system to suppress cancer cells. A person receives a dose of a vaccine, which, in turn, must "teach" the immune system to recognize organ-specific cells with the help of special receptors. After that, to kill or, more simply, "kill" cancer cells. Such treatment will not only significantly reduce tumor growth, but also prevent the appearance of metastases, as well as the return of the tumor after surgery, or the use of other methods of treatment.
Along with vaccination, studies are conducted on the effect on the tumor by electroporation. As a result, the integrity of the membranes of cancer cells is broken and they die. This is one of the most modern and effective ways of treating pancreatic tumors. Despite the novelty, this technique has already proved itself as one of the most effective in the treatment of pancreatic cancer of various genesis and location of localization.
Artificial implant against pancreatic cancer
The latest device was developed by scientists from the United Kingdom to replace the pancreas, an article about it was published in the media and scientific publications. It is implanted in the gap between the thigh and the rib, is a body made of metal, filled with insulin. D. Taylor patented a gel barrier that holds the substance inside.
The article explains that it softens when the blood glucose rises in the blood, releases the necessary amount of insulin into the vein. Normalization of glucose leads to hardening of the gel coat. The article notes that testing showed excellent adaptation of patients with type 1 diabetes. While preclinical testing is being carried out, in the future it is planned to replace the plastic case with a plastic case.