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What is pancreatic cancer?
Pancreatic cancer is a disease in which malignant, or cancerous, cells form in the pancreas.
The pancreas is a gland in the abdomen located behind the stomach. It is made up of exocrine cells and endocrine cells. Exocrine cells produce enzymes that help the body digest food. Endocrine cells make hormones – including insulin – that control blood sugar levels.
In some cases, pancreatic cysts may be found in the pancreas. These are usually noncancerous, or benign, but they can sometimes be precancerous and develop into cancer later. If your doctor suspects you have pancreatic cysts, he or she will test to see what type of cysts they are and may recommend a surveillance program to monitor them for growth.
What are the types of pancreatic cancer?
Pancreatic tumors form in either the exocrine or endocrine cells of the pancreas.
Exocrine tumors are far more common than endocrine tumors and are usually cancerous, or malignant. Exocrine tumors typically start in the pancreatic ducts and are most often adenocarcinomas. Unfortunately, these tumors are usually not found until the cancer has advanced.
Endocrine tumors are less common and can be malignant or benign. These tumors are sometimes referred to as pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) or islet cell tumors. Although the treatment for endocrine tumors depends on the tumor's type and stage, patients with endocrine tumors generally have a better prognosis compared with those with exocrine tumors.
What are the risk factors for pancreatic cancer?
One of the main risk factors for pancreatic cancer is having a family history of the disease. Inherited syndromes – including Lynch syndrome, von Hippel-Lindau syndrome and hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome – have been linked to pancreatic cancer. Our genetic counseling and testing team can help test for mutations and determine whether you have an increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer.
Other factors that may increase risk of pancreatic cancer include:
- Smoking or using tobacco
- Being African-American. African-Americans are more likely to develop pancreatic cancer compared to Hispanics, Caucasians or Asian-Americans.
- Being older than 55
- Being obese
- Having a personal history of diabetes
- Having chronic pancreatitis
- Being exposed to cancer-causing chemicals, including pesticides, dyes, asbestos and petrochemicals
What can you do to prevent pancreatic cancer?
There is no guaranteed way to prevent cancer. However, you can reduce your risk for pancreatic cancer by:
- Not using tobacco. Speak with your doctor if you need help quitting.
- Exercising regularly
- Eating a healthy diet, which includes plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and low-fat dairy. Talk with your doctor or a nutritionist about what you should include in a healthy diet.
- Limiting the amount of alcohol you drink.
- Keeping a healthy weight. Ask your doctor what a healthy weight is for you.
- Asking your doctor about genetic testing. If you have a family history of pancreatic cancer, you may have an inherited condition that increases your risk for disease.
Is pancreatic cancer screening available?
Typical wellness visits with your doctor do not include screening for pancreatic cancer. However, if you have a genetic disease that may increase your risk for pancreatic cancer, your doctor may recommend certain tests to check regularly for pancreatic cancer.
"Together, we make a unified decision and the recommendation to the patient really gives the patient the opportunity to have a second, third, fourth, or fifth opinion right there from a single Center."
MR-Guided Radiation Therapy with the MRIdian® A3i System
Miami Cancer Institute’s world-renowned radiation oncology experts – and the advanced technologies we offer – provide you with a life-changing medical edge in your fight against cancer, right here in South Florida. Miami Cancer Institute is the first in the world to delivery adaptive MR-Guided Radiation Therapy with the MRIdian A3i System.
Today, ViewRay’s MRIdian A3i upgrade gives the MRIdian system a suite of new and enhanced features that provides even greater precision and control. Miami Cancer Institute recently became the first in the world to use MRIdian A3i for adaptive radiation therapy, an advanced technique by which the delivered radiation is modified each day to ensure that high doses are precisely delivered only to the tumor, even if there are significant changes in the patient’s internal anatomy.
Pancreatic Ablation Therapy with NanoKnife®
Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is one of the most lethal types of cancers. It spreads silently, with about half of patients’ experiencing the spread of cancer to other organs by diagnosis. About 40% of patients will have pancreatic adenocarcinoma that is unresectable (unable to be removed), because of the tumor encasing blood vessels. Only about 10% of patients are eligible for a Whipple surgery, which is commonly used to treat pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
For patients who are not eligible for standard surgery, Baptist Health is proud to offer irreversible electroporation (IRE), or Nanoknife, for treating locally advanced pancreatic cancer. This treatment is offered to patients following discussions at our multidisciplinary tumor board.
Pioneered by Dr. Govindarajan Narayanan, chief of interventional oncology at Baptist Health Miami Cancer Institute, IRE is a minimally invasive technique that places probes, or electrodes, near a tumor using imaging guidance and under general anesthesia. Once the probes are in place, surgeons use high-voltage, low-energy electrical currents to destroy cancer cells.
Clinical trials have shown that IRE is safe and improves patient survival when used with chemotherapy or chemotherapy and radiation. Miami Cancer Institute is also one of the sites for the DIRECT trial and registry that is currently enrolling patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer.
"I started to feel better right away. I didn't have any side effects, I was able to eat again and my energy returned. It was wonderful."
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