A malignant tumor in the pancreas is called pancreatic cancer. 95% of pancreatic tumors are diagnosed as Adenocarcinomas, the rest of them are tumors like acinar cell cancers, exocrine pancreas tumor, neuroendocrine tumors. About 30,000 people in the United States die with this disease each year and 60,000 people are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in Europe.
There is misconception in the life expectancy and survival rate of pancreatic cancer patients . In the earlier days of Pancreatic cancer it was
thought that these types of cancers cannot be cured and death is imminent. The truth is that majority of the patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer can be helped with improving the quality of the life - and also in length. Pancreatic cancer is not easily detected in its early stage and because of this has been called the “silent disease”. By the time it is detected in most people, it is too late and death will be the can be expected in 6-12 months. Thus the life expectancy is of immediate concern to anyone who may be afflicted with this cancer.
Once the doctor confirms the symptoms as pancreatic cancer, the stages of
pancreatic cancer can clearly tell the doctor how far it has spread. The scan and the tests that the patient are advised to have when diagnosing the
cancer can give brief information about the stage.
Pancreatic cancer is one of the devastating diseases that gently rob the
patient’s life by both quality and quantity. A survey on this type of cancer
proved that only four percent of patients affected by this disease are alive
after they are given treatment for five long years. The research about this
disease, over a decade indicates that this type of cancer is a destructive in
its etiology.
Pancreatic Cancer is malignant tumors found on the pancreas. Tarceva is a
drug which is used for treatment of Pancreatic Cancer in advanced Pancreatic Cancer patients in combination with another drug Gemzar (Gemcitabine). Combination therapy was approved by FDA on Nov 2, 2005. The drug is marketed byGenentech in U.S.