There is hope on the horizon for patients who suffer from pancreatic cancer. Indeed, in its earliest stages, this type of cancer remains curable.
The treatment plan for this silent disease consists of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or pancreas transplant surgery.
Pancreatic cancer develops in the tissues of the pancreas. The role of the pancreas is to release enzymes that aid digestion and the secretion of hormones that help manage blood sugar levels
Does Pancreatic Cancer have any Symptoms?
Although this disease can be referred to as a silent one, it does not mean that it is asymptomatic. The signs of pancreatic symptoms are often mistaken with those of metabolic disorders.
However, we should distinguish between two types of symptoms related to this cancer. These signs can be classified into two main categories, which are:
Early symptoms of tumour
Usually, diabetes is the first common symptom of pancreatic cancer. This symptom can be associated with:
- Weight loss
- Jaundice
- Ache in the upper abdomen
- Back pain
Advanced stage’s Symptoms
At an advanced stage, the symptoms arise and include:
- Pain in the upper abdomen that extends to your back
- Loss of appetite or unintended weight loss
- Depression
- New-onset diabetes
- Blood clots
- Fatigue
- Pallor
How to diagnose it?
Pancreatic cancer expands rapidly to adjacent organs. It is rarely detected in its early stages. However, some screening steps for people with pancreatic cysts or a family history of pancreatic cancer would be efficient. Indeed, a CT scan might aid in detecting the disease at an earlier stage.
Types of pancreatic cancer treatment in Istanbul Turkey
Different types of surgery and treatment are available to treat pancreatic cancer. These therapies may include surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and targeted therapy.
Surgery
If the tumour is located in the head of the pancreas and did not spread yet, the patient will undergo surgery to remove it. This surgery is the best treatment for pancreatic cancer.
Chemotherapy
Oncology doctors use chemical drugs to kill cancer cells, and they aim to expand a person's lifespan. These medications can be either oral or intravenous.
The cancer cells in the pancreas and those that have spread to other organs are the main targets of the drugs. However, the latter may also harm other healthy cells in the patient’s body.
Chemoradiation therapy
The doctor uses a combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy in cases of metastatic cancer. This technique aims to kill cancer cells that spread to organs that are located near the pancreas.
The size of a tumour can be decreased before or after surgery radiation therapy.
Targeted therapy
People with advanced pancreatic cancer including, those who are at the metastatic stage may consider a targeted therapy. It is the most advanced treatment in the field of oncology.
Pancreatic cancer surgery in Turkey: Risks & survival rate
The surgeon can completely get rid of pancreatic cancer if it is discovered at an early stage. However, he can prescribe palliative treatment to relieve the symptoms of this disease if cancer has spread.
What are the factors that affect the Survival Rate?
In Turkey, hospitals and clinics that offer this type of cancer treatment, the survival rate relies on the following:
- Whether the tumour can be removed by surgery or not
- The stage of cancer (the size of the tumour and whether cancer has spread to other places in the body)
- The patient’s general health
- Whether the cancer has just been diagnosed or has recurred
What are the risks of the surgery?
The risks of surgery for pancreatic cancer are:
- Bleeding and the possible need for a blood transfusion. This can be managed by the medical team
- The occurrence of an infection such as a chest or wound infection. Some antibiotics can be given to decrease this risk
- The occurrence of an allergy due to general anaesthesia
How much does pancreatic cancer treatment cost in Turkey?
We help our patients to pay cheaper prices without compromising the quality of the treatment that they undergo.
We are partnered with highly-rated clinics and hospitals in Istanbul, Izmir, Ankara, and Antalya. So be reassured, with Turquie Santé, you will get the best pancreatic cancer treatment at an affordable cost.
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Pancreatic cancer, also called pancreatic adenocarcinoma, is cancer that affects the pancreatic gland. The reason this cancer is difficult to treat is because the pancreas is located near the stomach, liver, and intestine. Therefore, its symptoms are often difficult to interpret as they are confused with several diseases. Often, the disease is not detected until the metastasis phase.
Yes, if it is detected in the early phase.
Surgery is the main treatment for pancreatic cancer in our clinics in Turkey. However, surgical treatment is not possible for all patients. Chemotherapy or radiation therapy may, however, be possible.
Most pancreatic adenocarcinomas are the result of a mutation in the KRAS oncogenes (the genes that regulate cells division). These tumors are often surrounded by fibrous tissue which forms a barrier and prevents immune cells from attacking cancer cells. Therefore, both immunotherapy and targeted therapy are ineffective against pancreatic cancer.
Palliative care is treatment aimed at improving the quality of life of a patient with advanced cancer.
