- Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a relatively rare cancer of the
pancreas gland. - About 30,000 people in the United States are
diagnosed with PC every year, it is the fifth most common solid
tumor. - PC can be difficult to detect in its earliest stages,
most patients are diagnosed after it has been growing for some
time. - A person with PC may or may not have symptoms, such as
include yellow skin or eyes, pale colored stool, back pain and
unexplained weight loss. - PC is treated according to its stage.
Treatments include chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, or in some
cases, just supportive care. - Not all abnormalities of the
pancreas are cancer and a specific diagnosis is usually
required. - Diagnosis involves a physical exam, blood tests,
taking special types of scans (such as a CT scan or MRI) and
endoscopic studies, and in some cases a biopsy (sample) of the
pancreas. - Taking care of patients with known or suspected PC
often involves a variety of specialists. A variety of resources
are available to patients an