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About Pancreatic Cancer
The pancreas is a gland in the abdomen, performing a number of roles:
- It produces pancreatic juices, which help digest food in the intestines.
- It produces insulin, which helps the body to use glucose.
There are two types of cancer which can affect the pancreas – cancer of the pancreas itself,
and – much less commonly – cancer of the cells that produce insulin.
Pancreatic cancer tends to produce only minor or vague symptoms until it is well advanced.
There is no early detection test.
Also, the pancreas is not easily accessible.
As a consequence, pancreatic cancer is hard to treat.
If discovered early, before it has spread to other major organs such as the liver or lungs,
the cancer may be treated by removing part of the pancreas.
About 10% of those diagnosed with pancreatic cancer fall into this category.
For more information, see the following:
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