Learn Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer Prognosis, Survival Rates and Life Expectancy. Pancreatic cancer, highly lethal type of cancer, is one of the largest causes of cancer-related deaths all over the world. Although not the leading cause of cancer-related deaths, in both sexes, it still remains a slow, silent killer waiting to devour its next victim. Pancreatic Cancer is considered as 4th deadliest cancer:
- Lung cancer is the largest source of cancer related deaths
- Prostate and Breast are the second largest types of deadly cancers
- Colorectal Cancer is the third most dangerous cancer
- Pancreatic Cancer is 4th deadliest cancer in the world
Pancreatic Cancer Prognosis and Life Expectancy
Pancreatic Cancer involves invasion of cancer cells in the pancreas. The pancreas has both digestive and endocrine functions. It is a glandular organ found slightly behind the stomach. Its digestive function regulates the release of gastric enzymes, which aide the digestion process. Its endocrine function, however, involves the regulation of the hormones insulin and glucagon, which regulate the blood sugar levels in the body.
The normal cells in the body can only become unstable or erratic when triggered by carcinogens, or substances that induce the development of cancer cells. There are factors both predisposing and precipitating which indicates the vulnerability of a person acquiring the disease. Predisposing factors include those that are innate or develops within the body of the person. This includes age, sex and family history.
Cancer cells developing within the pancreas are highly aggressive and deadly. This means, that the abnormal cells can easily metastasize to other parts of the body, leaving no room for early detection and prevention. The disease in itself is highly fatal, leaving no trace of any sign and symptom as it should have been experienced by the patient. The signs and symptoms only develop during the later stage of the disease.
Pancreatic adenocarcinoma, as pancreatic cancer is called, is difficult to diagnose until it has completely metastasized throughout the whole body. Common signs and symptoms include discoloration of the skin and pain in the upper abdominal area, which spreads from the stomach to the back. The pain often worsens at night and could be relieved when the patient bends forwards. Pain is often experienced by those who are diagnosed with advanced metastastic disease. Jaundice or the discoloration of the skin and sclera is another sign, often painless but linked to pruritus or itching, as salt deposits from the excess bile cause skin irritation. Other symptoms include weight loss, due to loss of appetite, indigestion and pulmonary embolism due to cancer cells causing the blood to clot.
Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer Prognosis, Survival Rates and Life Expectancy
When Pancreatic Cancer spread to other vital body organs it is called widespread or Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer. Pancreatic adenocarcinoma tops the list as one of the cancer diseases with the poorest prognosis. This is due to the fact that the signs and symptoms only develop later into the advanced stage of the disease. It rarely metastasizes to the bone and brain but most commonly affects the lymph nodes. As it gets advanced, pancreatic cancer prognosis get even poor when spread to liver, stomach lining and eventually to the intestines. Worst of all, it spreads to the lungs.
Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer treatment options involves taking into consideration of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, palliative therapy and surgery.
Patients who have undergone these Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer treatment are given a survival rate of at least a year or less. Metastatic Pancreatic cancer prognosis with chemo is more than a year. Metastatic Pancreatic cancer prognosis with no treatment by patient of all ages is very low. Metastatic Pancreatic cancer prognosis for Stage 4 and 4b is 1.8% on 5 years survival rate scale. Patient diagnosed with pancreatic cancer had the slimmest survival rates, making it a silent and deadly killer.