Treatment of any cancer, including cancer of the pancreas, is carried out in different ways.
The choice of method for fighting cancer depends on many factors, primarily the stage of the disease, the localization of the tumor in the organ, the degree of spread of metastases, the age of the patient.
The oncologist doctor takes into account all the data of the diagnostic procedures and the general well-being of the patient, and only then offers him the most effective course of treatment. Naturally, diagnosing cancer at the initial stages of its development and earlier initiation of treatment increases the chances that the person who is ill can still live for many years.
Symptoms of malignant process
The early detection of a malignant process in the tissues of the pancreas depends largely on how carefully a person treats their health.
If you have unusual symptoms and changes in well-being, you should consult a doctor and do it without delay.
At the doctor's office, you should describe the harassing symptoms in the smallest detail, because cancer processes have common and specific symptoms.
Pancreatic cancer is usually manifested:
- Digestive impairment. Violation of the functioning of the body causes nausea, flatulence, rapid filling of the stomach, dyspeptic disorders.
- Symptoms of intoxication. At the initial stage, this is mainly periodic weakness, lethargy, lack of appetite. As the disease progresses, chronic fatigue, irritability, and body temperature may increase.
- Pain. First, the pain is fixed in the upper abdomen, then can move to the back, often radiating to the shoulder girdle, hands. Jaundice and sclera. The appearance of jaundice is explained by the compression of the bile ducts by the forming tumor.
- Darkening of urine and the appearance of discolored stool.
- Fast weight loss.
Symptoms of malignant process in the prostate are dependent on the type of malignant tumor, as well as on its location in the organ.
All these symptoms can be with other lesions of the abdominal cavity, it is possible to establish the diagnosis only after a comprehensive examination of the body. And the sooner this is done, the greater the chances of any person to recover.
Can pancreatic cancer be cured?
Complete cure of patients with established prostate cancer is not possible in the last stages of the disease. But such patients are offered maintenance therapy, which helps to minimize all unpleasant manifestations of the disease and prolongs life.
If the disease is established at an early stage, that is, the malignant neoplasm is within the body, and there is no metastasis, then it is necessary to begin treatment as early as possible.
In such cases, a radical operation is performed, in which part of the pancreas is removed along with the tumor, as well as part of the stomach, spleen, duodenum.
Such an intervention is necessary in order to exclude the possibility of the formation of secondary foci. If the operation is successful and there are no complications in the postoperative period, then a five-year survival without relapse of cancer is observed in 9% of patients.
Treatment options for
Treatment options for patients with malignant pancreatic neoplasm are primarily determined by the pathology stage.
Surgical operation is possible only if there are no distant metastases yet. In advanced cases, surgery is prescribed only to eliminate life-threatening abnormalities in the work of the body.
Both before and after the operation, chemotherapy and radiation are prescribed. The goal of these therapies is to destroy cancer cells and stop the growth of the tumor.
In the last stages, only palliative treatment is possible, consisting in the use of chemotherapy, radiation and medications necessary to improve digestion, reduce pain and to reduce intoxication.
Surgical intervention
Surgical treatment of prostate cancer is performed to remove the developing tumor, partially the pancreas or the entire organ. During the operation, the organs into which the cancer germinates can be removed along the segments.
To determine the area of surgical intervention, it is necessary to conduct CT diagnostics, ultrasound and other diagnostic manipulations that allow to accurately estimate the size of the tumor and the extent of its spread.
Often the operation plan is changed already when it is performed, since after access to the organ, unrecognized pathological changes can be detected.
- Whipple procedure or operation. One of the most common surgical techniques for malignant process in the pancreas. It is carried out if the cancer is localized in the head of the organ. During the operation, the head itself is removed, a certain part of the small intestine, stomach, gall bladder. Also, the altered parts of the bile duct and the lymph nodes located next to the organs are cut off. Operation Whipple on the technique of execution is very difficult and therefore often complicated by severe bleeding, postoperative infections and affects the formation of pathological changes in the functioning of the stomach.
- Resection of the distal pancreas. This type of surgery is prescribed if the cancer is in the tail or body of the organ. When it is carried out, only the tail is removed, but sometimes part of the body of the pancreas and the spleen are cut off.
- Pancreatectomy - removal of the pancreas completely. This type of operation simultaneously removes part of the stomach and small intestine, spleen, gall bladder and common bile duct, a number of lymph nodes.
In the last stages of cancer, only palliative operations are carried out, their main task is to facilitate the patient's well-being and improve digestion. In this case, the type of surgical intervention is selected depending on what complication is diagnosed in the patient.
When the bile ducts are blocked by the tumor, a stent can be inserted through which the accumulating bile will merge. Gastric bypass surgery is performed when a prostate tumor blocks the progress of food into the intestine. In this situation, the stomach directly connects with the small intestine.
Naturally, after such operations it is necessary to take certain medications to improve digestion. Patients should always follow the diet.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is a method of treatment of pancreatic cancer, based on the use of drugs that have antitumor activity. Their introduction into the body leads to disruption of reproduction and division of cancer cells, as a result of which their growth is blocked.
Combination of drugs is necessary to achieve the maximum positive result of chemotherapy.
Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy refers to the directional irradiation of a part of the body with a tumor. In prostate cancer, external radiation therapy is usually chosen, that is, the source of radiation generation is outside the body of the patient.
Radio waves kill cancer cells and thus prevent further growth of the tumor in size and even make it smaller.
In malignant pancreatic lesions, irradiation is prescribed in several cases, this is:
- To reduce the size of the neoplasm before surgery.
- When spreading cancer within the body.
- With severe pain syndrome, to facilitate overall well-being.
- During the postoperative period to reduce the likelihood of recurrence, which occurs with the new growth of cancer cells.
In most cases, patients with a malignant pancreatic tumor are given daily irradiation sessions for six weeks.
Radiosurgery
Radiosurgery or in another way the Cyber-knife is a modern variant of radiation irradiation of a malignant tumor.
The difference between this method and the traditional version of radiotherapy is a few moments:
- Method The cyber knife brings high doses of radiation to the tumor, but this is accomplished by isolating a large number of rays with low doses.
- Radiosurgery is able to monitor the changing position of the pancreas. With the breathing and movement of the patient, the organ is shifted, and the radiation in the usual way at that moment is able to hit healthy tissues. The cyber knife takes into account the changing position of the prostate and directs the radiation dose to the organ itself. That is, this method is more safe for the patient.
- Using a Cyberknife greatly reduces the total exposure time. Typically, patients are assigned only a few procedures.
After radiosurgery, fewer side effects are noted, and the rehabilitation period is significantly reduced.
Anesthetics
Anesthesia for any cancer is one of the main methods of treatment. At the onset of the disease, with non-expressed and non-persistent pain, non-narcotic analgesics with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used. The most commonly prescribed:
- Analgin in injections. It is recommended to put it at 2 ml every 6 hours, increasing the frequency of administration negatively affects the function of the kidneys.
- Paracetamol. You need to drink a dose of 500 mg at a time, you can repeat every 6 hours. Increasing the dose disrupts liver function. Based on this drug, Panadol and Solpadein are manufactured, their daily dosage should not exceed 4 grams.
- Naproxen in tablets is prescribed up to three times a day.
With chronic pain, non-narcotic analgesics are no longer valid or have a minimal analgesic effect. Therefore, the patient is prescribed weak opiates - Tramadol, Dihydrocodeine, Promedol.
In the last stages, narcotic analgesics are used with the strongest effect, it is Prosidol in tablets and injections, Fentanyl, Nalorfin. Based on Fentanyl, a patch is produced called Durogesic, and his actions last even three days. But often patients refuse from its acquisition because of high cost.
Anesthetics for pancreatic cancer should be selected by a physician. Narcotic analgesics are prescribed only on prescription and are subject to strict reporting. In some cases, the tumor strongly squeezes the nerve endings and this provokes persistent pain. Surgical removal of the affected nerves also alleviates the pain syndrome.
Therapy of pathology depending on the stage and location of
After the onset of cancer of the prostate cancer, the oncologist needs to carefully examine all the data of the diagnostic procedures, biopsy and general condition of the patient in order to choose the most correct method of treatment.
In cancer of the first stage, that is, when there are no metastases and the formation is within the body, the most effective way of fighting is a surgical operation followed by chemotherapy or radiation.
In the second to third stage, surgery is usually used as a palliative intervention. Sometimes chemotherapy can reduce the size of the tumor and then the patient appears more likely to successfully carry out the operation.
At the last stage, oncologists can offer only a palliative treatment option, which is necessary to facilitate well-being and prolong life for several months.
Side effects of
Cancer is one of the most serious diseases and powerful methods of treatment are needed to cope with it, which often cause side reactions and complications. The patient should be warned about them, as this will help to tune in psychologically and not blame the doctor for his unprofessionalism.
- In carrying out a surgical procedure, the risk of bleeding and postoperative complications is high. These complications worsen the prognosis of recovery. To minimize the risks of postoperative complications, it is required to follow all the doctor's recommendations, and to inform any medical personnel of any changes in health.
- Chemotherapy causes the most complications. The whole point is that antitumor drugs cause partial death of healthy cells. As a result of treatment, the organs of hematopoiesis, digestion, and nervous system can be damaged. During the chemotherapy itself, and for some time afterward, the patient is disturbed by severe nausea, often accompanied by vomiting, weakness, and lack of appetite. The majority of hair fall out heavily, inflammation occurs and ulcers in the mouth are formed.
- Radiation therapy , in addition to general changes in health, causes redness, scaling and dry skin at the site of exposure.
Adverse reactions of treatment are less evident in those patients who follow all the advice of a doctor and adhere to the right diet for several months.
What can you eat with pancreatic cancer?
Correctly selected diet for organ cancer will make it easier to carry the disease itself and reduce the side effects of the treatment.
When choosing food and food, several things should be considered:
- You should mainly eat cooked and steamed dishes as food. Occasionally you can afford yourself baked with a minimum amount of fat products.
- All food should be as gentle as possible, that is, soft, wiped with the addition of a minimum dose of salt and without sharp spices.
- Completely need to give up smoked, fatty and spicy food. Under the prohibition of alcohol, fizzy drinks, strong coffee.
- Fatty types of fish are forbidden, but it is necessary to use periodically pollock, flounder, pike.
- It is recommended to eat more cereals, vegetable soups, omelets, casseroles. Bread in the disease eat only dried.
- The vegetable fruits of non-acid varieties are allowed. Use them in a raw and baked form.
You need to eat small portions, but more often. Such a regime will ensure the least strain on the body. The strictest diet should be maintained after the operation, expand it gradually and with all the recommendations of the doctor.
Prophylaxis and prognosis of the disease
If a patient has a malignant process in the pancreas, then doctors can not give rainbow forecasts.
The cancer of this organ for a long time does not give a certain symptomatology, but at the same time it quickly metastasizes. How many people live will depend on the stage of the disease, the localization of the tumor in the organ itself, the extent of the spread of cancer cells throughout the body.
The examination of patients revealed several regularities:
- When the tumor spreads beyond the boundaries of the body for 5 years, only 20% of patients live. But this is possible only with observance of constant treatment.
- If the tumor is inoperable, then live an average of 6 months.
- Chemotherapy in most cases prolongs life by no more than 9 months.
- Radiation therapy for prostate cancer delayed the lethal outcome for a year.
- During a radical operation, they live about two years. Five-year survival is determined in no more than 45% of cases.
- When carrying out palliative operations, the life span is extended by 8-12 months. If additional irradiation is carried out, the patients live longer for 4 months.
- At stage 4 of the disease, no more than 5% of people live for more than a year, and only 2% for more than five years.
Risk of illness is less:
- If a person does not smoke.
- Properly powered. That is, the diet is constantly present vegetable products, fish dishes, lactic acid products. Reduces the likelihood of developing pancreatic cancer, this spice should be added to the dishes.
- Does not work in hazardous industries.
And it is necessary to consult with a doctor if you have anxious and constant changes in your state of health. Timely treatment of even non-cancerous diseases is also considered the prevention of malignant processes. Who risks to develop pancreatic cancer, this video will tell: