pancreatic cancer

The cost of treating pancreatic cancer in India varies. Now it's easy to calculate the cost based on the number of sessions you need.

Pancreatic Adeno-Carcinoma

This type of cancer occurs in the enzyme- secreting exocrine cells that are responsible for proper digestion. This is the most commonly found types of pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic Neuro-Endocrine tumors

This type of cancer occurs on the hormone- secreting endocrine cells that are responsible for proper metabolism and controlling moods.

• Jaundice
• Lack of appetite
• Nausea and vomiting
• Unexpected weight loss
• Pain in the lower back region
• Mild to severe pain in the abdomen

• Excessive weight gain and obesity increase the risk.
• Diabetes, including type 1 and type 2, elevates the likelihood of pancreatic cancer.
• Heavy alcohol consumption or drug use can lead to pancreatitis and cancer development.
• Excessive smoking, exposing the body to harmful substances like tar and nicotine, heightens the risk.
• Infections such as H. pylori in the digestive tract may contribute to pancreatic cancer.
• Unhealthy eating habits and irregular lifestyle can damage the pancreas, increasing cancer risk.
• Hereditary factors, including genetic mutations like Lynch syndrome and Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, play a role in pancreatic cancer development.

Pancreatic Cancer Stage 0:

Stage 0 represents the earliest phase of pancreatic cancer, where practically no symptoms occur. At this stage, the condition does not yet progress to cancer, but abnormal cells may develop in the pancreas and its surrounding tissues, potentially evolving into cancerous cells over time.

Pancreatic Cancer Stage 1:

Stage 1 marks the initiation of cancer development, characterized by the growth of a small tumor on the pancreas. This stage is further divided into two phases:

Stage 1A: The tumor size is 2 cm or less.

Stage 1B: The tumor grows slightly larger, measuring more than 2 cm but less than 4 cm.

Pancreatic Cancer Stage 2:

At this stage, the tumor grows larger than 4 centimeters but hasn't spread beyond its immediate vicinity or into nearby lymph nodes (Stage 2A). In Stage 2B, while the tumor continues to increase in size, it also starts to spread into adjacent tissues and involves a few nearby lymph nodes.

Pancreatic Cancer Stage 3:

At this challenging stage, patients experience symptoms including weight loss, depression, lower back pain, loss of appetite, fatigue, and abdominal discomfort. Despite the difficulties, surgeons in India have achieved success through the use of radiation therapy and chemotherapy.

Pancreatic Cancer Stage 4:

Stage 4 represents the most advanced phase with minimal survival chances and daunting symptoms like loss of appetite, fatigue, weight loss, depression, jaundice, and severe pain. Unfortunately, recovery at this late stage is improbable.

The treatment of pancreatic cancer is determined by various factors including the cancer's stage, extent of damage to the pancreas and surrounding areas. However, the primary treatment goals involve:

Destroying Cancerous Cells: Halt abnormal cell division.
Preventing Spread: Control cancer from metastasizing.

While treatment methods may vary for each individual, common approaches include:

• Surgery : Surgery is the primary treatment for pancreatic cancer, aiming to remove damaged parts of the pancreas, but becomes less effective in advanced stages when cancer spreads to surrounding areas.
• Radiation Therapy : The use of radiation therapy is the most effective way to treat pancreatic cancer. This procedure uses X- rays and high- intensity lights that are applied on the affected region to destroy the cancer cells.
• Chemotherapy : A drug therapy in cancer treatment, the most effective therapy that uses medications to treat the cancer.
• Targeted therapy : This is a unique therapy to treat pancreatic cancer. In this method, the cancer cells are targeted, and they are destroyed by using medicinal drugs and antibodies, without damaging the surrounding healthy cells.
• Immunotherapy : Immunotherapy is an advanced technique in treating cancer diseases because in this therapy the immune system of the body is given a boost to treat the cancer.

Survival rates in case of pancreatic cancer can vary from one person to the other, depending on the stage of the cancer and its severity. Here is the average survival rate for pancreatic cancer.

India, renowned for medical tourism, boasts top hospitals like MGM Healthcare, MIOT Hospital, and Fortis network, offering quality pancreatic cancer treatment with reduced costs, advanced infrastructure, and skilled medical personnel.