Pancreatic Cancer: The Basics

What is the Pancreas?

The pancreas is a pear-shaped gland, about six inches in length, located deep within the abdomen, between the stomach and the spine. It is referred to in three parts: the widest part is called the head, the middle section is the body, and the thin end is called the tail. The pancreas is responsible for making hormones, including insulin, which help to regulate blood sugar levels, and enzymes, which are used by the bowel for the digestion of food. These enzymes are transported through ducts within the pancreas, emptied into the common bile duct, which carries the enzymes into the bowel.

What is Pancreatic Cancer?

Pancreatic cancer happens when cells in the pancreas begin to grow uncontrolled, without any “checks and balances”. These “out of control” cancer cells then have the ability to spread to nearby lymph nodes and organs (such as the liver and lungs). When cancer spreads, it is called metastatic. About seventy percent of pancreatic cancers occur in the head of the pancreas, and most of these begin in the ducts that carry the enzymes.

Am I at Risk For Pancreatic Cancer?

The incidence of pancreatic cancer is highest between 60 and 80 years of age, and is only rarely seen in people under 40. It is seen about equally in men and women, although the rates in women have risen in recent years, which may be due to higher rates of smoking in women. Cigarette smokers are two to three times more likely to develop pancreatic cancer. It is slightly more common in blacks and members of the Jewish community. It is seen more commonly in people who have diabetes, but this link is not yet well understood.

Certain occupational exposures are thought to put a person at higher risk. These include chemists, coal, gas, and metal workers, and those employed in industries where pesticides are used more frequently. A person's risk triples if his/her mother, father, or siblings have had the disease. A family history of breast or colon cancer also increases risk. This increased risk is due to inherited mutations in cancer-causing genes (changes that allow cancer to develop). The actual cause of this disease is not known, but is thought to be a result of a combination of inherited genetic changes and changes caused by environmental exposures.

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