People diagnosed with pancreatic cancer often face confusing regarding pancreatic cancer facts and fiction. If or when you are diagnosed with cancer of any kind, there is a range of emotions you may experience. This includes everything from fear to terror, heartbreak to sadness, and even confusion. You may deal with a little denial, and you will most likely deal with shock. However, you may also come to terms with your diagnosis and want to find out as much as you can about this cancer. There are so many myths out there, but what's really important is knowing the facts about this cancer.
Life Expectancy
The survival rate of patients with this cancer is one of the worst. The estimate is that just over 44,000 people will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer on an annual basis, and just more than 37,600 of those diagnosed will not survive. It is one of the few cancers that have not seen an increase in survival rate in more than 40 years. This type of cancer is the fourth deadliest cancer in the country. Typically, those diagnosed with this type of cancer are given an estimated lifespan of three to six months if they have metastatic disease as well.
Causes and Symptoms
There is little known about the cause of this disease. In fact, medical professionals have defined very few risk factors. Those defined include age, smoking, family history of this disease, and diabetes. Symptoms are vague, and often misinterpreted for some other illness. Abdominal and back pain, jaundice, weight loss, lack of appetite, and changes in a person's stool are the only symptoms of this disease.
Detection
Detecting this disease is not as simple as detecting other forms of cancer, which is why patients often do not know they have it until it is too late. There are no detection devices that can catch this disease when it is still new enough to treat or remove. For this reason, pan can is one of the most dangerous and deadliest forms of cancer in the country.
Treatment Options
Unfortunately, treatment options are very limited when it comes to this cancer. Fewer than 20 percent of people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer are eligible for surgical removal. Most patients are offered a combination of chemotherapy and radiation to fight the cancer, but it is only successful on occasion. Currently, there are three FDA-approved drugs available for treatment of pan can: 5-FU, Gemzar, and Tarceva.
Gender Issues
There is no preferred sex when it comes to diagnosing pan can. According to the National Cancer Institute, the ratio of men to women who are diagnosed with this type of cancer on an annual basis differs by less than 300, with men being diagnosed just a few more times each year than women. There is no way to tell who will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer until they are diagnosed; it doesn't matter if you are a man or a woman, your chances are pretty much equal.
Life Expectancy
The survival rate of patients with this cancer is one of the worst. The estimate is that just over 44,000 people will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer on an annual basis, and just more than 37,600 of those diagnosed will not survive. It is one of the few cancers that have not seen an increase in survival rate in more than 40 years. This type of cancer is the fourth deadliest cancer in the country. Typically, those diagnosed with this type of cancer are given an estimated lifespan of three to six months if they have metastatic disease as well.
Causes and Symptoms
There is little known about the cause of this disease. In fact, medical professionals have defined very few risk factors. Those defined include age, smoking, family history of this disease, and diabetes. Symptoms are vague, and often misinterpreted for some other illness. Abdominal and back pain, jaundice, weight loss, lack of appetite, and changes in a person's stool are the only symptoms of this disease.
Detection
Detecting this disease is not as simple as detecting other forms of cancer, which is why patients often do not know they have it until it is too late. There are no detection devices that can catch this disease when it is still new enough to treat or remove. For this reason, pan can is one of the most dangerous and deadliest forms of cancer in the country.
Treatment Options
Unfortunately, treatment options are very limited when it comes to this cancer. Fewer than 20 percent of people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer are eligible for surgical removal. Most patients are offered a combination of chemotherapy and radiation to fight the cancer, but it is only successful on occasion. Currently, there are three FDA-approved drugs available for treatment of pan can: 5-FU, Gemzar, and Tarceva.
Gender Issues
There is no preferred sex when it comes to diagnosing pan can. According to the National Cancer Institute, the ratio of men to women who are diagnosed with this type of cancer on an annual basis differs by less than 300, with men being diagnosed just a few more times each year than women. There is no way to tell who will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer until they are diagnosed; it doesn't matter if you are a man or a woman, your chances are pretty much equal.
SHARE
