Pancreatic cancer treatment in India

The hockey-stick-like gland present just below and behind the stomach is called the pancreas and it helps in keeping the blood sugar in the normal range while also helping in the digestive process. The production of glucagon and insulin happens in the pancreas. When the mutations in the DNA of the pancreatic cells happen abnormally it results in pancreatic cancer. Depending on the type of pancreatic cancer and other factors, the kind of pancreatic cancer treatment in India is decided by the doctors. As with every other cancer, pancreatic cancer also has tumors forming due to the mass production of cells that do not die. These tumors are not always malign and sometimes can be benign too.

Pancreatic cancer types

The tumors in the pancreas are classified as neuroendocrine and exocrine tumors. Exocrine tumors are the most common contributing to nearly 93% and the most common type of pancreatic cancer is adenocarcinoma. Pancreatic cancer, in general, refers to adenocarcinoma in the pancreas. This cancer usually begins in the pancreatic ducts and is termed ductal adenocarcinoma. The neuroendocrine tumor is also referred to as PNETs or Pancreatic NETs, or as islet cell tumors. These are caused when the NETs produce excess hormones and they are named after the hormone the cells are making. For instance, if the cells producing insulin are affected then it is known as insulinoma and so on. Depending on the type and location of cancer, the pancreatic cancer treatment in India is decided.

Symptoms of pancreatic cancer

In the early stages, pancreatic cancer may not cause any symptoms or signs. With the progression of the disease, there will be a few signs such as,

1. Pain in the upper abdomen that spreads to the back.
2. Jaundice causes the skin and eyes to yellow
3. Appetite loss and fatigue feeling
4. Loss of weight
5. Clotting of blood in the body
6. Dark-colored urine and lighter colored stool
7. Skin becomes itchy
8. Vomiting and nausea.
9. Worsening of diabetes or freshly acquired diabetic condition

If you develop any of these persistent symptoms, you can check with your doctor who will then diagnose and depending on the type of cancer will decide the right pancreatic cancer treatment in India.

Factors that can cause pancreatic cancer

While DNA level mutations in pancreatic cells cause cancer, certain factors can prove risky for some people.

• Smoking can result in hormonal issues further causing pancreatic cancer.
• Pancreatitis or chronic inflammation in the pancreas
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• History of pancreatic cancer in the family
• Genetic mutations from family history or Lynch syndrome, FAMMM syndrome, etc. in the family.
• Aging as many cases is detected in people above the age of 65.

Diagnosing pancreatic cancer

Before advising on the pancreatic cancer treatment in India, the doctors would first confirm the existence of the disease and determine the stage to which it has progressed.

1. Imaging tests like CT scans, MRI scans, and PET scans can help in diagnosing the disease.
2. An endoscopy is performed to take images of the pancreas from the inside. A thin tube is passed through the esophagus to perform the same.
3. A biopsy where testing is done on a sample of the tissue to check and confirm pancreatic cancer.
4. Blood tests to check if the cancer markers, in this case, CA19-9, have risen. This may not be a definitive way to prove the presence of pancreatic cancer.

These tests help in confirming the presence of cancer and the stage to which it has progressed so that the doctor can advise on a further course of pancreatic cancer treatment in India, suitable for the person.

Pancreatic cancer treatment in India

Treatment for pancreatic cancer could be just surgery or therapy or a combination of both, depending on the condition of the patient and the extent of cancer progression.

Surgery for pancreatic cancer

1. For cancers located in the head of the pancreas, pancreaticoduodenectomy is performed. It is also known as Whipple Procedure and it is the removal of the affected pancreatic head, affected lymph nodes, gall bladder, and duodenum. In certain cases, this also involves the removal of the colon and a little tissue from the stomach. The remaining part of the pancreas is connected to the stomach to ensure digestion progresses smoothly.
2. Distal pancreatectomy involves the removal of the pancreatic tail and this might involve the removal of the spleen as well.
3. Pancreatectomy involves a surgical procedure to remove the pancreas completely. While this may not hinder your life, you would need insulin for a lifetime along with the replacement of enzymes.
4. If the tumors have spread to nearby blood vessels, then these blood vessels are removed and reconstructed. This is done only by specialized medical centers.

Apart from surgery, there are also therapies used as part of pancreatic cancer treatment in India, either as a combination with surgery or separately.

1. Chemotherapy is used for killing cancer cells through drugs. The drugs are sent into the bloodstream through IV or pills or as a drink. This is often combined with radiation therapy to completely treat cancers that are contained in the pancreas.
2. Radiation therapy is another common procedure used where high-energy beams like photons, protons, or X-rays are used for killing cancer cells. It is delivered either as external beam radiation or intraoperative radiation during surgery, as required for the patient.

Apart from the above, there are also other clinical trials that patients can be part of. While this may not guarantee success, it gives a chance to get treatments that are not generally available. To get more information about pancreatic cancer and the different pancreatic cancer treatments in India, get in touch with Tripo Heal.