April 19, 2024

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Is resection of pancreatic cancer useful?

Is resection of pancreatic cancer useful?

 

Is resection of pancreatic cancer useful?  The early symptoms of pancreatic cancer are not obvious, and patients tend to miss the opportunity to treat. Is resection useful at this time?


Surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy are commonly used methods in the treatment of pancreatic cancer.


Unlike other cancer types, the incidence and mortality of pancreatic cancer are almost 1:1!


According to clinical data, pancreatic cancer has the lowest cure rate among all cancer types. The vast majority of adenocarcinoma patients have entered the advanced stage when they are diagnosed. In just a few months or even a few weeks, the patients were ruthlessly killed by pancreatic cancer!

The reason for this is that the pancreas organ is located in a very special position. It is located in the deepest part of the upper abdominal cavity of the human body, and is quite close to the stomach. The pancreas is responsible for secreting pancreatic juice and insulin.

 

Therefore, not to mention that the early symptoms of pancreatic cancer are not obvious, even if the symptoms appear, the patient will mistake it for ordinary chronic gastric disease!

Even more frightening is that the degree of malignancy of pancreatic cancer is quite high. Even in its early stage, affected by the fragile and highly malignant pancreatic capsule, cancer cells may infiltrate the surrounding area. In addition, pancreatic cancer is not sensitive enough to radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and it is only a matter of time before the death of patients who miss the opportunity of surgery!

 

However, with the continuous advancement of medical technology in recent years, pancreatic cancer is not without treatment. The following two treatments may bring opportunities and hope for patients with pancreatic cancer:

 

Surgical treatment

Pancreatectomy: If the patient is diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at an early stage, the cancer at this time is quite small and only confined to one part of the pancreas, which is eligible for pancreatectomy.

The so-called total pancreatectomy, as the name implies, is to remove the entire pancreas of the patient. Normally, the bile duct, gallbladder, part of the stomach, small intestine, spleen, and peripheral lymph nodes will also be removed. The purpose is to increase the probability of successful surgery and reduce the later period. The possibility of recurrence and metastasis.

Subsequently, the doctor will connect the rest of the pancreas, stomach, and bile ducts to the small intestine. This kind of surgery is also the most effective treatment for early pancreatic cancer. However, it is a pity that only 15-20% of pancreatic cancer patients are candidates for surgery. When other patients are discovered, their condition is no longer suitable for the surgery;

 

Distal pancreatectomy: Surgery that only involves the removal of the tail of the pancreas is clinically called distal pancreatectomy. This operation is another option for patients.

After the operation, patients may face a series of problems, such as loss of appetite caused by decreased pancreatic juice secretion, indigestion, and diabetes caused by impaired insulin secretion.

 

Chemotherapy

Under normal circumstances, after pancreatic cancer surgery, patients still need several courses of radiotherapy and chemotherapy to completely kill the remaining cancer cells in the body and reduce the chance of later recurrence.

However, as mentioned above, pancreatic cancer is not sensitive enough to radiotherapy and chemotherapy, so radiotherapy and chemotherapy after surgery cannot be done once and for all. In addition, after starting radiotherapy and chemotherapy, patients may experience a series of side effects, including vomiting, nausea, hair loss, bone marrow suppression, etc.

 

In general, surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy are commonly used methods for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. If the patient has missed the opportunity for surgery, the hope of cure will become elusive. At this time, the purpose of treatment will be to improve the patient’s quality of life, inhibit the further development of cancer, and prolong life, so that the patient’s last period of time will pass Dignity, no regrets.

 

(source:internet, reference only)


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