Pancreatic Cancer Research Paper

Pancreatic Cancer:

An Exploration of a Deadly Disease and its Impact on Embalming

Sasha Zazzi-Western

Pathology

Dr. de la Cruz

23 November 2014

1. Pancreatic Cancer: A Brief Introduction

Pancreatic cancer is a devastating disease. The cancer metastasizes quickly and relentlessly. Even if diagnosed early by a medical professional, the prognosis generally has a poor outlook. Not only does the cancer wreak havoc on the body, but the aggressive chemotherapy treatments used to override it can have severe adverse effects. It is a physically and emotionally draining situation for the patient. In the beginning, the signs and symptoms may seem innocuous. Weight loss, changes in stool, nausea, and some abdominal pain are all early indicators

The pancreas is located behind the stomach, surrounded by the liver and spleen. It is a vital organ for the digestive process – it helps convert consumed foods into fuel for the body. A healthy pancreas is responsible for producing hormones (by the endocrine gland) which circulate in the blood. It secretes pancreatic juices (by the exocrine gland), which contains enzymes to help with the digestive process. (http://www.uchospitals.edu/online-library/content=P00682) In pancreatic cancer, malignant cancer cells form in the tissues of the pancreas. “When the cancer metastasizes outside the pancreas, cancer cells are often found in nearby lymph nodes, the peritoneum, the liver, and the lungs.” (Pathology book) About 95% of pancreatic cancers begin in exocrine cells.

Signs and Symptoms

In early stages of pancreatic cancer, only mild symptoms arise, if the patient experiences any symptoms at all. These mild symptoms can be as innocuous as a stomach ache. Later in its progress, “pancreatic cancer can by characterized by: pain in the upper abdomen, jaundice (icterus), dark urine, weakness, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and weight loss” (Pathology 232) Many of the changes in physical appearance, such as dark urine and yellow jaundiced skin, are due to the build-up of bilirubin in the body. According to the American Cancer Society, bilirubin is:

“…a dark yellow-brown substance made in the liver. Normally, the liver excretes bilirubin as part of a liquid called bile. Bile goes through the common bile duct into the intestines, eventually leaving the body in the stool. When the common bile duct becomes blocked, bile can’t reach the intestines, and the level of bilirubin in the body builds