Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most serious of all cancers. It develops when malignant cells form in the tissues of your pancreas — a large organ that lies horizontally behind the lower part of your stomach. Your pancreas secretes enzymes that aid digestion and hormones that help regulate the metabolism of carbohydrates.

Although pancreatic cancer accounts for just 2 percent of new cancer cases in the United States, it's the fourth leading cause of all cancer deaths. That's because pancreatic cancer spreads rapidly and is seldom detected in its early stages. Symptoms such as yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice), abdominal pain and unexplained weight loss may not appear until the disease is quite advanced. By that time, the cancer is likely to have spread (metastasized) to other parts of the body and surgical removal is no longer possible.

For years, little was known about pancreatic cancer. But researchers are beginning to understand the genetic basis of the disease — knowledge that may lead to new and better treatments. Just as important, you may be able to reduce your risk of pancreatic cancer with a few simple lifestyle changes.