The medical industry finds it difficult to discover and make an early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. Since the pancreas is deep within the abdomen, a normal physical exam more than likely will not produce a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. Let’s see some of the tests that can be used to see how pancreatic cancer can be discovered in those who have it.
Medical groups have developed a test that is used to give a positive diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. If a patient has jaundice accompanied with abdominal pain a physician may recommend an abdominal ultrasound. This can detect gallstones. Gallstones are at times a precursor to pancreatic cancer. Computer tomography can then be used to locate a tumor, if there is one, in the pancreas. A biopsy or biopsies will be performed to confirm or negate whether the tissue being focused on is indeed cancer. If it is cancer then a positive diagnosis of pancreatic cancer will have been accomplished.
There is a test for a certain protein in the body that can help in the positive diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. A protein called CA19-9 is a very good indicator for pancreatic cancer. When this protein is at an elevated level in the body it usually means cancer of the pancreas is at work. This is good for delineating between pancreatitis and true pancreatic cancer and provides help in the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. In one test, seventeen out of twenty people who had pre-cancerous pancreas conditions the seventeen had elevated CA19-9 levels.
As difficult as pancreatic cancer is to discover, the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer must be done at earlier stages to ensure the life of the patient is saved. Pancreatic cancer is one of those ruthless yet quiet diseases that many times is not found until it is too late. The rate of death and amount of patients has changed little for thirty years. Nevertheless, the medical industry is working on drugs that can be used in chemotherapy to help even those who have had a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer at the advanced stages. Gemcitabine is one such drug. It is a common chemotherapy drug, but positive results using this drug are hard to come by.
If you are a person who has a family history of pancreatic cancer you will want to do all you can to prevent hearing a doctor give you a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. You are doing the right thing in searching online for more information. Do not give up in your search for the primary cause of cancer, including pancreatic cancer. The truth is out there if you look hard enough and you can avoid a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.