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Pancreatic cancer: forecast

The pancreas consists of such parts as the head, body and tail. A malignant tumor most often affects the head of the authority. Unfortunately, the disease is diagnosed only at a late stage when it is completely remove the tumor is impossible. Among the causes of death from cancer the fourth is for pancreatic cancer: the prognosis of relapses very unfavorable, the detection of malignant tumors in the initial stages is difficult.

rak podzheludochnoj zhelezy: prognozTo remove a malignant tumor with this diagnosis rarely, only 20% of patients. But five-year survival after resection of pancreatic cancer is 5-8%. Among radical surgery in-hospital mortality of 10-15%. The main reason for relapse after surgery. About 90% of patients after diagnosis die within a year.

If the tumor is inoperable, basic treatment to reduce the signs and ensure an optimal quality of life. Existing in modern medicine cannot afford to cure this cancer. Currently, research is devoted to the use of radiation therapy and chemicals in inoperable cases, and also before and after the operation to improve the efficiency of surgical intervention.

Symptoms of pancreatic cancer can be associated with curability:

      A) Potentially resectable about 5% of patients. In 90% of cases these patients cancer of the pancreatic head. Jaundice occurs in 70-90% of patients, pain in 25% jaundice no pain – 50%. The potential survival of such patients – an average of 70 weeks.
      B) Local spread of cancer of the pancreas, leading to presentability, recorded in 46% of patients. In 80% of cases a malignant neoplasm is localized in the head. At 60-75% of patients noted jaundice, 50-80% severe pain, 15% jaundice without pain. The average life expectancy of such patients is 30 weeks.
      In) the Distant metastasis was diagnosed in 49% of patients. Equally often affected the head of the pancreas, body and tail. Almost all of these patients plagued by severe pain (more than 80% of cases), jaundice occur in 15-30%, jaundice no pain – 5%. Average survival was 10 weeks.

Stages of pancreatic cancer

When staging malignant tumors accounted for its position, size, prevalence and the presence of metastases. To indicate the stage of the disease, it is necessary to conduct a full examination. To determine how to cure pancreatic cancer, the doctor can only after staging.

In medical practice use different classifications. Most often when cancer of the pancreas account for the possibility of surgical removal of the tumor. From this point of view there are three categories:

      1)Resectable pancreatic cancer.

Operable the tumor that can be surgically removed. A malignant tumor within the pancreas or extends beyond the boundaries of the authority, but in the vital arteries and veins will not grow. Evidence of distant metastasis no. To detect pancreatic cancer at this stage is extremely difficult. Only 10-15% of patients is determined by an operable tumor.

      2)Locally advanced pancreatic cancer.

The tumor extends beyond the pancreas and affects nearby tissues and organs, grows in a neighboring vein or artery. Signs of distant metastasis are lacking, but remove the malignancy is not possible. At this stage, to identify cancer of the pancreas could in 35-40% of cases.

      3)Metastatic pancreatic cancercancer.

A malignant tumor metastasizes not only to the nearby organs, but throughout the abdominal cavity. This stage is diagnosed in 45-55% of patients.

This classification of malignant tumors allows doctors to determine the best ways to treat pancreatic cancer.