Pancreatic Cancer Statistics

FUNCTION OF THE LIVER:

Pancreatic Cancer Statistics

The liver is located in the right upper quadrant or RUQ of the abdomen. The liver creates an yellowish-brown colored or greenish, thick fluid named bile. Bile contains a fatty substance i.e. cholesterol, bile acids, and many bile pigments. The pigment named bilirubin is manufactured from the breakdown of hemoglobin in the liver. Bile combines with bilirubin in the liver and then passes into the duodenum. This material is also excreted out from the body with feces.

The bile is manufacturing continuously in the liver travels down to the gallbladder via hepatic duct and cystic duct. Gallbladder is a pear-shaped sac like structure, which is under the liver. Gallbladder collects the bile and stored inside. The bile gets concentrated in the gallbladder. The bile forced to out to the duodenum via common bile duct and pancreatic duct. The duodenum or the first part of the small intestine receives a mixture of bile and pancreatic juice.

Emulsification is an effect of bile on fats in the duodenum, by which bile breaks large fat globules and then the enzymes from the pancreas can digest the fats. So fat digestion is the important function of the bile. Without bile fat materials from the food will remain undigested. The liver apart from producing bile, which also participates many important functions in human body.

The liver maintains the amount of blood sugars also called glucose normal in the body by removing excess of sugars from the bloodstream and stores it in the form of starch (glycogen) in the liver cells. In the situation of very low blood sugars in the blood, which is a danger condition to the body, the glycogens or the starch are converted again to the glucose by the liver. This process is called glycogenesis.

Another important function of the liver is also to convert fats and proteins in the body into glucose and uses it when the body needs it. This process is called gluconeogenesis. The liver also produces the important blood proteins essential for blood clotting. Bilirubin is produced by the liver destruction of old erythrocytes. The liver also removes the poison materials from the blood through a process called detoxification.

The another important function of the liver is formation of urea. The liver receives amino acids from the blood and it removes ammonia and which is converted into urea, and removed by kidney and excreted out with urine.

The liver helps in the digestion of fats via bile.

The liver also helps in controlling body temperature. It stores hematrin necessary for the formation of RBCs. It forms RBC in the fetal life. It is a storehouse for many chemicals enzymes, and substances life vitamins etc.

Hepatic Portal System:

The blood vessels that bring to the liver from the intestines. This system of blood vessels is called hepatic portal system.

Digested foods pass into the portal vein directly after being absorbed into the bloodstream from the small intestine, thus giving the liver first chance at using the nutrients.

Functions of the pancreas:

The pancreas is an gland, which works both as an endocrine and also as an exocrine organ. As an exocrine, the pancreas produces pancreatic juices filled with enzymes called amylase and lipase to digest the food. These pass into the duodenum through the pancreatic duct.

As an endocrine gland, the pancreas secretes insulin into the bloodstream. Insulin is a hormone essential to help release sugar from the blood, which acts as a carrier to bring glucose into cells of the body to be used for energy.

For one thing, cancer is held up as the ultimate disease - the standard by which all really bad things in life is measured. Maya Angelou was an American poet who said, "Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host," and Edward Abbey was an American writer and environmentalist who said, "Growth for the sake of growth is the ideology of the cancer cell." No matter what "it" is, the worst is always compared to cancer.

Pancreatic Cancer Statistics

Then there are those famous people who say things that echo in our minds forever. Olivia Newton-John said, "My cancer scare changed my life. I'm grateful for every new, healthy day I have. It has helped me prioritize my life." Lance Armstrong, the famous cyclist, is quoted as having said, "If children have the ability to ignore all odds and percentages, then maybe we can all learn from them. When you think about it, what other choice is there but to hope? We have two options, medically and emotionally: give up, or fight like hell."

Melissa Bank, an author, wrote, "During chemo, you're more tired than you've ever been. It's like a cloud passing over the sun, and suddenly you're out. You don't know how you'll answer the door when your groceries are delivered. But you also find that you're stronger than you've ever been. You're clear. Your mortality is at optimal distance, not up so close that it obscures everything else, but close enough to give you depth perception. Previously, it has taken you weeks, months, or years to discover the meaning of an experience. Now it's instantaneous."

But maybe the most succinct quote of all is the anonymous quote: "Cancer cures smoking!"

Breast cancer survival can be described in the following ways:

Pancreatic Cancer Statistics

- Period of time : 5 or 10 years, that a woman lives after diagnosis

- Risk of recurrence

- Risk of death when compared to others with the same illness

The first is the more popular method. Since the survival rate is commonly categorized according to stages, some points about the stages of breast cancer first.

Stage 0 cancer is the non-invasive type. Cancer cells remain within the walls of the place where they are discovered. For Stage I, the tumor is invasive and is about 2 centimeters long. Stage IIA cancer means that tumor is 2-5 centimeters. With Stage IIB cancer, the tumor may be less than 2 centimeters but a few axillary lymph nodes are affected. For Stage IIIA cancer, the tumor is more than 5 centimeters or it has reached more lymph nodes. Stage IIIB cancer is characterized by the tumor invading the breast skin, regardless of its size. Stage IV cancer is the most advanced form, where the cancer cells have moved far from the breast and have infected other organs of the body as well.

Stages are also described as early (Stages 0-IIA), later (Stage IIB and III) and advanced (Stage IV).

When diagnosed with breast cancer it is the stages that will determine the treatment plan.

Survival rates

In computing the survival rate, researchers take note of the percentage of women who survive for a specific period of time, say, 5 years, after diagnosis of breast cancer. The current survival rates for all breast cancer stages are:

- Five-year survival rate - 86%

- Ten-year survival rate - 76%

Women with no metastatic breast cancer have a 5-year survival rate of 96%, while those with metastatic breast cancer have a 5-year survival rate of 21%

Here are the 5-year survival rates according to stage:

- Stage 0 - 100%

- Stage I - 100%

- Stage IIA - 92%

- Stage IIB - 81%

- Stage IIIA - 67%

- Stage IIIB - 54%

- Stage IV - 20%

Remember that these are estimates only. Some actually live longer than 7 years, depending on the medication and lifestyle changes that they make. After 7 years survival rates decrease.

Other factors that affect survival

Preliminary studies have been conducted regarding factors that can affect survival. There are promising results with respect to factors such as changing your diet and lifestyle. While the results are not conclusive yet, it still makes sense to maintain a healthy lifestyle. While there is no direct connection between exercise and increased survival rate, studies showed that exercise improved the quality of life of survivors, such as higher self-esteem, improved mood and better sleep patterns. The same holds true for group psychological therapy. Being able to express their feelings and support for other survivors had positive effects on their quality of life. Smoking increases the risk of the spread of cancer, as there may be metastasis of cancer from breast to lung.

The importance of early detection cannot be overemphasized. When detected early, the correct treatment can then be administered and once treated, there is less risk for the cancer to spread or recur. That is why doctors and breast cancer advocates encourage regular testing and screening for all women. This is necessary even after treatment because there is still a risk of recurrence.

Conduct a self breast exam monthly. If necessary, have clinical tests such as mammograms and MRI scans. Ask your doctor for more information on breast cancer and search the web for answers from experts.

Breast cancer survival rates are mere estimates. Some patients actually live longer than 5 or 7 years. Changes in diet and lifestyle can increase a patient's survival rate. Live a healthy lifestyle by eating more fruits, vegetables and fiber, and avoid alcohol intake.