Pancreatic Cancer
What is Pancreatic cancer?
Pancreatic cancer is a type of cancer that begins as a growth of cells in the pancreas. The pancreas lies behind the lower part of the stomach. It makes enzymes that help digest food and hormones that help manage blood sugar. The most common type of pancreatic cancer is pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. This type begins in the cells that line the ducts that carry digestive enzymes out of the pancreas.
Pancreatic cancer rarely is found at its early stages when the chance of curing it is greatest. This is because it often doesn’t cause symptoms until after it has spread to other organs.
Types
There are two main types of pancreatic tumors:
- Pancreatic adenocarcinoma: About 95% of cancers of the exocrine pancreas are adenocarcinomas. These cancers usually start in the ducts of the pancreas
- Less common types of exocrine cancer: Other, less common exocrine cancers include adenosquamous carcinomas, squamous cell carcinomas, signet ring cell carcinomas, acinar cell carcinomas, undifferentiated carcinomas, and undifferentiated carcinomas with giant cells.
- Ampullary cancer (carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater): This cancer starts in the ampulla of Vater, which is where the bile duct and pancreatic duct come together and empty into the small intestine. Ampullary cancers aren’t technically pancreatic cancers, but they are included here because they are treated much the same.
- Neuroendocrine tumors: Less than 10% of pancreatic tumors are neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). Islet cell carcinoma is another name for an NET.
Symptoms
Pancreatic cancer often doesn't cause symptoms until the disease is advanced. When they happen, signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer may include:
- Belly pain that spreads to the sides or back.
- Loss of appetite.
- Weight loss.
- Yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes, called jaundice.
- Light-colored or floating stools.
- Dark-colored urine.
- Itching.
- New diagnosis of diabetes or diabetes that’s getting harder to control.
- Pain and swelling in an arm or leg, which might be caused by a blood clot.
- Tiredness or weakness.
Causes
The exact cause of pancreatic cancer isn't known. However, certain factors—such as smoking and a family history of the disease—may increase the risk.
Pancreatic cancer begins when cells in the pancreas undergo changes in their DNA. Normally, DNA directs cells to grow and die in an orderly way. In cancer, the altered DNA causes cells to grow uncontrollably and live longer than they should, forming tumors that can invade surrounding tissues and spread throughout the body.
Risk factors
Several factors may increase the risk of developing pancreatic cancer:
- Smoking
- Type 2 diabetes
- Chronic pancreatitis (long-term inflammation of the pancreas)
- Genetic conditions, such as BRCA2 gene mutations, Lynch syndrome, and FAMMM syndrome
- Family history of pancreatic cancer
- Obesity
- Older age (most cases occur in people over 65)
- Heavy alcohol use
Staging
Pancreatic cancer is categorized into stages based on how far it has spread. Understanding each stage helps guide treatment options and prognosis.
Once all of these factors have been determined, this information is combined in a process called stage grouping to assign an overall stage.
Stage 1
Stage II
Stage III
The tumor can be any size and has spread to four or more nearby lymph nodes, but not to distant organs.
Stage IV
The cancer has spread (metastasized) to other parts of the body, such as the liver or lungs. This is the most advanced stage.
Grade
Pancreatic cancer is categorized into stages based on how far it has spread. Understanding each stage helps guide treatment options and prognosis.
Once all of these factors have been determined, this information is combined in a process called stage grouping to assign an overall stage.
Grade I
Grade III
Grade III
The tumor can be any size and has spread to four or more nearby lymph nodes, but not to distant organs.
Grade Iv
The cancer has spread (metastasized) to other parts of the body, such as the liver or lungs. This is the most advanced stage.
5-Year Survival Rate
At a glance:
| Estimated new cases in 2024 | 67, 440 |
| % of all new cancer cases | 3.3% |
| Estimated deaths in 2024 | 51,980 |
| % of all cancer deaths | 8.4% |
| 5-year relative survival (2014–2020) | 13.3% |