Pancreatic Cancer

Question 1

Yearly incidence?

Answer 1

47,000

Question 2

Yearly mortality?

Answer 2

40,000

Question 3

True or false: Pancreatic cancer has a low mortality rate.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

True or false: Incidence is higher in whites than in blacks.

Answer 4

False

Question 5

Risks?

Answer 5

1) Smoking
2) Exposure
3) Obesity

Question 6

Symptoms?

Answer 6

1) Jaundice
2) Abdominal pain/back pain
3) Pale/greasy stools

Question 7

How is it detected?

Answer 7

CT/MRI

Question 8

What 3 known mutations does pancreatic cancer involve?

Answer 8

1) K-Ras
2) Ink4a/ARF
3) p53

Question 9

If you have a tumor in the head of the pancreas, what is your prognosis?

Answer 9

You are dead

Question 10

If you have a tumor in the tail of the pancreas, what is your prognosis?

Answer 10

Might survive; can remove tail and leave the head alone

Question 11

Stage when tumor is localized; survival?

Answer 11

Stage 1; 14%

Question 12

Stage when tumor is either growing on the outside of the pancreas or in nearby nodes. Survival?

Answer 12

Stage 2; 5%

Question 13

Stage when tumor is growing on the outside of the pancreas and into nearby blood vessels and nerves. Survival?

Answer 13

Stage 3; 3%

Question 14

Stage when metastasized. Survival?

Answer 14

Stage 4; 1%

Question 15

How often are tumor confined to the pancreas upon diagnosis?

Answer 15

1 in 5 are confined to the pancreas.

Question 16

What radical procedure is used to treat tumors that are in the head of the pancreas?

Answer 16

whipple procedure

Question 17

Why does pancreatic cancer have such a high mortality rate?

Answer 17

1) It is very asymptomatic

2) Does not respond to chemo