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What Is The Pancreas? 

The pancreas is about 6 inches long and it is shaped like a flat pear. It is located in the abdomen, surrounded by the stomach, intestines, and other organs. The pancreas is a glandular organ made up of exocrine and endocrine cells. The pancreas has two (2) very important functions in the body: 

• Exocrine Function – The exocrine cells in the pancreas produce digestive enzymes which are released into the duodenum through the pancreatic duct to help break down food including carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.
• Endocrine Function – The endocrine cells secrete insulin and glucagon,  hormones that help regulate sugar levels in the bloodstream. 

What Is Pancreatic Cancer? 

Pancreatic cancer is a buildup of uncontrolled abnormal cells forming masses or tumors in the tissues of your pancreas. Compared with many other cancers, Pancreatic Cancer has the highest mortality rate across the world. 

Different Types Of Pancreatic Cancer

There are many different types of tumors that can be found in the pancreas.  Most types of pancreatic cancer start in the pancreas ducts while, less commonly, they develop in the islet cells.

• Exocrine Pancreatic Tumors – The most common type of pancreatic cancer is pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC). It starts in the exocrine cells of the pancreatic ducts that produce digestive enzymes that help with digestion.
• Endocrine Pancreatic Tumors – The other less common type of pancreatic tumors are known as Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors (NETs/PNETs) or islet cell tumors. This type of tumor is rare and affects the hormone making cells of the pancreas. 

How Pancreatic Cancer Is Treated

There are different treatments for patients with pancreatic cancer, depending on several factors including the size and location of the tumor, type, stage and overall health of the patient. Treatment options include:

• Surgery – Surgical resection is generally the best option for patients with early stage pancreatic cancer that is localized. The type of surgery performed depends on where the tumor is located in the pancreas. 
  • Head – The operation is called Pancreatoduodenectomy or Whipple procedure.
  • Tail and body (The spleen may also need to be removed) – The operation is called distal pancreatectomy.
  • Entire pancreas – The operation is called total pancreatectomy.
  • Nearby lymph nodes and blood vessels may also be removed as part of the operation.
• Chemotherapy – This treatment uses drugs, alone or in combination, to destroy cancer cells. Chemotherapy is given intravenously or through a vein. It can also be used to help alleviate pancreatic cancer symptoms, stop the growth of cancer cells and/or prevent them from multiplying. 
• Radiation Therapy – High energy x-rays are used to kill the cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation Therapy can also be used with other treatments. Types of radiation therapy include:
  • External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT) – External beams of radiation are directed into the cancerous areas in the body from a machine. 
  • Internal Radiation Therapy or Brachytherapy – Is given by placing seeds, ribbons or capsules inside the body near the tumor.
  • Proton Beam Therapy – It is the type of radiation that uses protons instead of x-rays to destroy tumor cells. 
• Chemoradiation Therapy – Sometimes depending on the stage of the pancreatic cancer, it is more effective when chemotherapy and radiation are given together.
• Targeted Therapy – It is a pancreatic cancer treatment that turns healthy cells into cancer cells. This helps understand the genetic mutation of a cancer cell and how to treat different mutations.
• Immunotherapy – It uses the body’s immune system to identify and destroy cancer cells. 

How Common Is Pancreatic Cancer?

The American Cancer Society’s estimates for pancreatic cancer in the United States for 2022 are:

• About 62,210 people (32,970 men and 29,240 women) were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
• About 49,830 people (25,970 men and 23,860 women) died of pancreatic cancer.

Why Donate To Cancer Research?

Be a hero by donating today to pancreatic cancer research.  Research and innovation are critical for creating breakthroughs that will improve the lives of pancreatic cancer patients. 

TrovaNOW proceeds go towards collaborative research to detect pancreatic cancers earlier, saving thousands of lives from the world’s deadliest cancer. Learn more at http://trovanow.com

Survival Rate Of Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive human malignancies, with a dismal survival rate of 12% and very few resources and tools to combat it. There is no simple pancreatic cancer screening test or other pancreatic cancer early detection tools, and its earliest symptoms are non-specific.

We recognize that there is a large gap between scientific discoveries made in the lab and effective treatments for patients. Up until now, there hasn’t been a lot of incentive for pharmaceutical companies to develop drugs for pancreatic cancer patients because it has been viewed as an uncommon cancer.

Both the incidence and mortality of pancreatic cancer are increasing, and it is projected to become the 2nd LEADING CAUSE of cancer-related deaths in the United States by 2030. 

It’s estimated that 50% + of pancreatic cancer patients are diagnosed when the condition is already metastatic – meaning it has spread to other parts of the body. We’re working on changing that. 

This staggering statistic is so high due to the unique location and structure of the pancreas. Tumors are generally not felt due to the positioning of the pancreas and the difficulty reaching it. Moreover, people generally only display pancreatic cancer symptoms when the tumor becomes large enough to interfere with other organs. Sadly, by this time, it’s often too late.

Does Donating To Cancer Research Help

Pancreatic Cancer is the deadliest common cancer, yet it receives less than 3% of cancer research funding. At TrovaNOW, our mission is to raise funding for collaborative research for pancreatic cancer early detection and prevention – the largest effort of its kind in the world.

We are an international, multi-institutional collaborative consortium of world renowned experts in pancreatic cancer that is assembling the largest high-risk patient cohort, with biospecimen collection and longitudinal clinical data. Pancreatic cancer early detection and prevention would dramatically change the trajectory of the disease, saving tens of thousands of lives each year. 

Be a hero by donating today to pancreatic cancer research. Your support keeps pancreatic cancer research going. Contributions go towards:⁣

• Maximizing identification of high risk individuals + advance early detection research and clinical care⁣.
• Developing and validating an early detection blood test for pancreatic cancer.⁣
• Advancing the understanding of genetics to pancreatic cancer risk and development, including finding new pancreatic cancer susceptibility genes.⁣
• Formulating and executing a strategic plan for pancreatic cancer prevention. ⁣

Join us in our mission to advance pancreatic cancer early detection to transform the landscape of this disease and improve survival rates. Research and innovation are critical for creating breakthroughs that will improve the lives of pancreatic cancer patients.  

Together we fight. For our family. For our friends. For the future. For all. At TrovaNow, we are up for the challenge. If you have any questions or If you want more information about how to donate, just email us at trovanow@gmail.com or learn more at http://trovanow.com

Pancreatic cancer is hard to detect at its early stages. Very often, diagnosis is not made until the symptoms have spread to other organs and it is much more difficult to treat. It is complicated by the fact that many of the symptoms can be caused by other conditions. 

If you’re experiencing any warning signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer, please see your doctor. Below are some of the symptoms of pancreatic cancer you need to look out for.

• Fatigue – Patients with signs of pancreatic cancer may feel weak and extremely tired. Fatigue can make the other symptoms worse which can compromise ability to perform daily tasks and activities.
• Nausea And Vomiting – The tumors near the end of the stomach may partially block a portion of the digestive tract. This may cause nausea, vomiting and pain after eating.
• Abdominal And Back Pain – One of the common symptoms of pancreatic cancer is abdominal and back pain that occurs when the tumor grows in the body or tail area of the pancreas pressing the nerves and other nearby organs. The pain may start in the abdomen radiating to the back.
• Weight Loss, Bloating And Poor Appetite – Unexplained weight loss can be caused by the treatment and the tumor itself leading to indigestion, bloating and poor appetite. It prevents the body from absorbing nutrients from food.
• Changes In Stool – Pancreatic cancer can cause bowel problems. Patients may have diarrhea, constipation and steatorrhea or foul-smelling and excessive fat in the stools.
• Blood Clots – Blood clots are a  common complication of pancreatic cancer, and may include: 
  • Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) – Some people may experience pain, redness and swelling in the affected area. These clots usually develop in the leg, thigh or pelvis and even in the arm.
  • Pulmonary Embolism (PE) – Sometimes, blood clots occur in the lungs causing chest pain or shortness of breath. 
  • Portal Vein Thrombosis (PVT) – Is a blockage of the portal vein which is the blood vessel that brings blood to organs like the pancreas and liver.

• Diagnosed With Diabetes – Pancreatic cancer can lead into a sudden onset of diabetes. The pancreas produces a hormone that decreases blood sugar levels called Insulin. It destroys the insulin cells production causing the blood sugar levels to rise. Symptoms may include:
  • Feeling tired
  • Blurred vision
  • Very hungry and thirsty
  • Urinating more often at night

• Jaundice – When the tumor blocks the liver’s bile duct it can cause the buildup of bilirubin in the blood. The bile can’t reach the intestines. The symptoms include:
  • Yellowing of the eyes and skin
  • Itchy skin or Pruritus
  • Dark urine
  • Light-colored stool 

How To Avoid Pancreatic Cancer?

Be a hero by donating today to pancreatic cancer research.  Pancreatic cancer research and innovation are critical for creating breakthroughs that will improve the lives of pancreatic cancer patients. 

How To Donate To Cancer Research?

TrovaNOW proceeds go towards collaborative research to detect pancreatic cancers earlier, saving thousands of lives from the world’s deadliest cancer.  If you have any questions or If you want more information about how to donate, just email us at trovanow@gmail.com or learn more at http://trovanow.com