pancreatic cancer

Cancer of the pancreas is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in
the United States. This year approximately 32,000 Americans will die
from cancer of the pancreas. The disease is not only common, it is
also extremely difficult to treat. For these and other reasons, cancer
of the pancreas has been called "the challenge of the twenty-first
century."
The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions has become the leading center
for the treatment and study of pancreas cancer. We created this web
page to:
1. Educate patients and family members with the hope of empowering
them as they make complex medical decisions; and
2. Provide a virtual Web family of support and caring for those
facing this disease.
Introduction
Pancreatic cancer is one of the most serious of cancers. It develops
when cancerous cells form in the tissues of your pancreas - a large
organ that lies horizontally behind the lower part of your stomach.
Your pancreas secretes enzymes that aid digestion and hormones that
help regulate the metabolism of carbohydrates.
Pancreatic cancer spreads rapidly and is seldom detected in its early
stages, which is a major reason why it's a leading cause of cancer
death. Signs and symptoms may not appear until the disease is quite
advanced. By that time, the cancer is likely to have spread to other
parts of the body and surgical removal is no longer possible.

For years, little was known about pancreatic cancer. But researchers
are beginning to understand the genetic basis of the disease -
knowledge that may eventually lead to new and better treatments. Just
as important, you may be able


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http://www.dontplayplay.com/cancer