Pancreatic Cancer

The pancreas is a secretory organ located at the back of the stomach, producing the enzymes necessary for digestion and transferring them to the duodenum, the first part of the small intestine, through the canal, and producing the hormones necessary for the regulation of blood sugar. Pancreatic cancer is called pancreatic cancer when the cells that make up the pancreas lose their functions within normal limits and divide uncontrollably and become a tumor.

PANCREATIC CANCER RISK FACTORS
Smoking is known to be a risk factor for pancreatic cancer. Apart from this, it has been determined that family history, genetic factors and some mutations facilitate the emergence of the disease. There are also studies in which the disease is associated with obesity.

SYMPTOMS OF PANCREAS CANCER
The disease often begins with ambiguous findings. Fullness in the upper part of the abdomen, feeling of discomfort, loss of appetite are common symptoms seen in almost all patients in the early period. However, since these symptoms can be seen as a simple stomach complaint, the possibility of early diagnosis of the disease decreases. In some cases, sudden onset of diabetes can be an early sign and warning of pancreatic cancer. The emergence of such a picture in patients without a family history of diabetes is considered remarkable. Pancreatitis attack in the absence of a factor such as gallstones or alcohol use can also be the first sign of pancreatic cancer. In the advanced stages of the disease, symptoms such as severe abdominal and back pain, jaundice, weight loss, and swelling in the abdomen appear. Unfortunately, these findings are also accepted as an indication that the disease has passed the treatment limits.

DIAGNOSTIC METHODS OF PANCREATIC CANCER
In the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, your physician will perform your physical examination by questioning your medical history. Blood tests and imaging methods are used to clarify the diagnosis and determine the status of the disease. In the blood tests of the patients; Tumor markers such as CA 19-9 and CEA are often elevated. Bilirubin values and liver function tests may be found to be high in patients with biliary obstruction. The methods used in imaging are; ultrasonography, computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. With these methods, the disease can be detected to a large extent. In patients with severe jaundice, it may be necessary to place a stent in the biliary tract while preparing for treatment.

TREATMENT METHODS IN PANCREAS CANCER
The primary treatment for pancreatic cancer is surgical removal of the tumor. In the postoperative period, chemotherapy and radiotherapy become a necessity for almost all patients. In the locally advanced stage, where surgical removal of the tumor is not possible, chemo-radiotherapy can reduce the size of the mass and a chance for surgery can be obtained. Thanks to MR-LINAC, one of the medical technologies, even tumors in moving organs can be accurately irradiated and destroyed during treatment. While the tumor is irradiated, the surrounding healthy tissues are protected with great precision. The image of the tumor in the moving organs can also be taken instantly and continuously; In this way, the beam sent to the tumor can be re-targeted according to the movement of the tumor. The tumor can be treated with the required high dose of radiation. All tumors can be destroyed by irradiation with precision. In cases where the disease has spread to distant organs such as the liver, the main method used is chemotherapy. The pancreas is located on the posterior abdominal wall as an organ and is located on the flow path of many blood and lymph vessels. Therefore, the probability of recurrence of the disease increases after treatment. It is possible for treated patients to encounter this disease again within 3 years on average. It is estimated that increasing long-term success rates will only be possible with the discovery and use of more effective chemotherapy agents.