Pancreas Cancer

Cancer Of The Pancreas: What Are My Options?

Cancer of the pancreas is one of the most serious forms of cancer plaguing Americans, and people around the world. While this form of cancer can be found in locations around the globe, it tends to present predominantly in industrialized areas, with Europe facing a high number of cases diagnosed each year. In fact, Europe has nearly double the amount of amount of cases each year when compared to the United States. All across Europe, over 60,000 individuals are diagnosed with cancer of the pancreas, compared to just over 30,000 in the United States.

Many of those diagnosed with cancer of the pancreas, view their diagnosis as a death sentence, and sadly that is exactly what it is for many. Cancer of the pancreas has the lowest rate of recovery for all forms of cancer, and its remission rate is low as well. Remission is a set period of time when cancer “hibernates”. The cancer patient typically undergoes treatment, which limits the disease from spreading throughout the body. Many patients then experience a remission stage where the cancer symptoms disappear, and they have time to live a normal life, be it for a few months or for a few years. Unfortunately those who suffer from cancer of the pancreas are usually not given the same chance.

With cancer of the pancreas, there is a tumor that sits in the pancreas and wreaks havoc on the body. In some cases, by the time the cancer of the pancreas has been diagnosed, the disease has progressed too far for traditional treatments. Some are in such an advance stage of their cancer of the pancreas that doctors are left to treat the symptoms, not the disease because it is the only option.

Cancer of the pancreas is different from other forms of cancer as well, because it is not treated with chemotherapy. The location of the tumor makes it difficult to treat with the radiation therapy, or chemotherapy. In some cases, certain drugs have been found to slow the disease, or least lessen the symptoms. Others have undergone surgery to remove the tumor. Those cases are extremely rare, as the surgery can only be performed in the early stages of the cancer of the pancreas. As stated before, most doctors have only one option, and that is to treat the symptoms, not the disease.

The outlook of those suffering from cancer of the pancreas is limited at best. If the cancer of the pancreas is caught early on, the individual is typically given 3-5 years to live. Those that are diagnosed later on, are often given much less time. There are some that live far beyond the time limit given to them by doctors, but there are many more who do not make it to even the lesser amount of time.

All of these factors explain why many people diagnosed with cancer of the pancreas give up all hope. That isn’t to say that they should, as many people have lived with their cancer of the pancreas.