Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer: Causes and Treatment

• Metastatic pancreatic cancer is the cancer of the pancreas that spreads and travels to the lymphatic system. The malignant pancreas tumor metastasizes and spreads
• An inflamed pancreas usually as insufficient pancreas enzymes that can cause cancer of the pancreas
• As with all cancers there are causes that put people at a higher risk than others. These causes will be addressed in this article
• There are also a number of treatments for metastatic pancreatic cancer that will be discussed. Below are the known causes and effective treatments for metastatic pancreatic cancer

While there are no known preventative measures that exist, overall health does play a huge factor in the possibilities of acquiring cancer of the pancreas. The more in shape you are and the better health you are in, the less likely you are to develop an inflamed pancreas let along cancer of the pancreas.

Risk factors can be lessened by eliminating the known risk factors for pancreas cancer. Some of the more common causes or risk factors include the following:

1. Smoking

Smoking weakens the immune system and makes you more susceptible to illness and disease; this includes metastatic pancreatic cancer as well as a pancreas tumor. Smoking can also cause more susceptibility to an inflamed pancreas. This is usually caused by insufficient pancreas enzymes that can cause cancer of the pancreas. A pancreas tumor is also more likely to occur in people who smoke versus non-smokers.

2. Excessive alcohol intake

Alcohol drinking is hard on your pancreas. All alcohol consumption should be stopped immediately if you experience any symptoms of a metastatic pancreatic cancer. Alcohol is difficult on the pancreas and if you have cancer of the pancreas, alcohol use should be stopped altogether and immediately. If you have been diagnosed with a pancreas tumor, it is important to immediately stop drinking.

3. Excessive caffeine

It is not too late to adapt to a healthy lifestyle. Eliminating alcohol, tobacco and caffeine can decrease the risk of developing a pancreas tumor associated with pancreas cancer. Caffeine is hard on the system and causes the pancreas to work over time. An inflamed pancreas needs to work less and rest more. Caffeine should be consumed in moderation. Too much caffeine can cause not only pancreas problems but liver and stomach issues.

Treatment for metastatic pancreatic cancer involves the following and depends primarily on the extent of the cancer:

1. Localized

When the cancer is completely localized and confined within the pancreas, localized treatment is required. Surgery is often recommended to remove the cancer and elevate the sufficiency of the pancreas enzymes.

2. Advanced Localized

When the cancer has spread slightly from the pancreas to adjacent blood vessels and nearby organs advanced localized treatment is required. For the locally advanced cancer that surgery can take care of, chemotherapy accompanied with radiation is necessary and often recommended by the health care professional. Chemotherapy is almost always used when the cancer of the pancreas is locally advanced.

3. Metastatic

When the cancer has spread outside the pancreas and into other parts of the body, the treatment required is metastatic. When the cancer is metastatic a combination of chemotherapy and radiation is necessary.

The information supplied in this article is not to be considered as medical advice and is for educational purposes only.