CA
A 27-year-old member asked:
is pancreatic cancer usually life-threatening?
2 doctor answers • 10 doctors weighed in
Dr. Brandon Smitheyanswered
Specializes in Pathology
Typically: The most common type of pancreatic cancer is adenocarcinoma arising from the pancreatic duct, usually associated with a bad outcome. The reason is that, given the anatomic location, adenocarcinoma of the pancreas typically will not cause symptoms until it has developed aggressive features (such as invasion of surrounding organs or metastasis to distant organs), rendering cure unlikely.
6.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Umut Sarpelanswered
Surgical Oncology 20 years experience
Unfortunately, yes: The term pancreatic cancer usually refers specifically to pancreatic adenocarcinoma, the most common type. While there are other pancreatic tumors with a good prognosis, pancreatic adenocarcinoma is a very aggressive tumor. Unfortunately, most patients with this cancer are diagnosed late, at a point when achieving a cure is exceedingly rare.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
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Similar questions
A 34-year-old member asked:
What are alternative or complementary treatments of pancreatic cancer?
2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in
Dr. Randy Bakeranswered
Holistic Medicine 40 years experience
Many possibilities: Unfortunately, conventional therapy has poor success. Alternative therapies are controversial but are worth considering- see www.Cancertutor.Com for an overview. For pancreatic cancer specifically, oncologist nicholas gonzales offers a promising if controversial approach: www.Dr-gonzalez.Com a recent study on homeopathic psorinum had incredible results:
www.Hindawi.Com/journals/ecam/2011/724743.
6.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
What are the stages of pancreatic cancer?
2 doctor answers • 7 doctors weighed in
Dr. Vasu Brownanswered
Integrative Medicine 34 years experience
Posting a link here: The staging is detailed here - http://www.Pancreatica.Org/index.Cfm/faqs.Htm#c2.
6.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
What is pancreatic cancer?
2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in
Dr. Reza Shirazianswered
Radiation Oncology 20 years experience
Uncontrolled growth: Cancer is uncontrolled growth of cells that has escaped normal mechanisms of control that exists in the body to control cell growth and repair damage that may have occurred in the dna of a cell. If this happens to be in the pancrease, (pancrelipase) we call it pancreatic cancer.
6.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
CA
A 38-year-old member asked:
Where does pancreatic cancer begin?
2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in
Dr. Marsha Davisanswered
Internal Medicine 28 years experience
In the pancreas: Can be anywhere in the gland itself.
6.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
What are the various types of pancreatic cancer?
2 doctor answers • 7 doctors weighed in
Dr. Ritesh Rathoreanswered
Hematology and Oncology 30 years experience
Adenocarcinoma: 95% of pancreatic cancers are adenocarcinoma; the remaining 5% are hormone making tumors called neuroendocrine tumors (such as insulinomas, gastrinomas, glucagonoma, and vipomas).
6.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions or offer you advice, prescriptions, and more. Get help now:
Last updated Jun 17, 2015
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