Pancreatic cancer surgery is one of the standard treatments for pancreas cancer. Radiation treatment and targeted therapy are other options used to treat pancreatic cancer. The treatment of side effects and symptoms is an important component of pancreatic carcinoma treatment.
Pancreatic cancer occurs when cancer grows in the pancreas. About 25% of all cancers in men are diagnosed in this area. The symptoms of early-stage pancreatic carcinoma are often not apparent. It can be difficult to diagnose the disease because it is slow-growing, and most people don’t experience symptoms. The treatment of pancreatic carcinoma often takes many years to diagnose. Eventually, it will be discovered that the disease has spread and is being treated elsewhere.
Surgical Removal of Pancreatic Cancer
The surgery to remove a cancerous tumor from your body does not remove the cause of the tumor. The surgery also can’t guarantee that the side effects caused by your pancreas cancer will not recur later in life. There are other options, such as medication or chemotherapy. These treatments have been proven to be effective in certain types of pancreatic carcinoma. Radiation therapy may be an option if your doctor recommends surgery as a last resort.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy can be done by gamma radiation, X-ray or ultrasound. The type of radiation administered depends on whether you have pancreas cancer or not. The type of radiation administered also depends on the part of the body being treated, as well as the age and overall health of the patient. However, this treatment comes with some risks. Some of the side effects caused by radiation therapy include vomiting, weight loss, fatigue, hair loss, skin irritation, fluid retention, fever, and diarrhea. Your doctor and your health care team should discuss whether you are at risk of developing pancreatic carcinoma after this type of treatment.
In determining if your doctor feels that pancreatic cancer is a likely diagnosis, he or she may ask for further information from you, such as your medical history, physical examination, blood test results, urine test results, and symptoms you’ve experienced. This information is used by the doctor to determine if pancreatic cancer has been detected and how severe it is. Symptoms and severity of symptoms help doctors determine the proper course of treatment. It is important that you completely cooperate with your doctor during this evaluation. Your doctor will be able to diagnose you faster if you provide as much information as possible.
Your Family Medical History
Your doctor will also want to know about your family’s medical history. Your family doctor will also be consulted to determine if there are any relatives who have been diagnosed with other types of cancer. Different types of cancer have different treatments. Your doctor will look at the blood tests of any relatives to determine what type of pancreatic carcinoma you have. To get a complete picture of your condition, the results from the blood tests and other data like symptoms will be combined. Your doctor will examine your family’s medical history. This includes your parents and children, as well as your occupational history.
Your doctor will also want to evaluate your symptoms as they relate to pancreatic cancer. Because symptoms can vary from one person to another, you will need to perform much of the analysis. You’ll likely be asked questions about your symptoms, especially as these symptoms occur over time, rather than immediately after a specific event or circumstance. Your doctor will ask about your symptoms during regular daily activities, as well as if there is a sudden increase in the frequency of your experiencing these symptoms. Your diet, recent physical activity, and current medications may be asked by your doctor.
Next Steps in Treating Pancreatic Cancer
If all of the information from your physical exam and from your physical examination indicates that you do have pancreatic cancer, then your doctor will likely want to start you on a course of treatment called standard surgical resectable pancreatic cancer treatment. This treatment is reserved for patients who have not responded to previous treatments. Most often, this treatment option is used if resectable pancreatic cancer is detected at an early point in the operation.
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