The human body is made up of trillions of living cells, each one growing and dividing at a normal pace, but when damage is done to a person's DNA, their cells begin to grow at a rapid, out-of-control pace which in turn, causes cancer. Instead of the normal, "grow, divide, die" routine that most cells have, cancerous cells keep growing, and they form abnormal cells that can invade other tissues in the body. These abnormal cells can form tumors, which can be benign or malignant. This abnormal cell growth can happen anywhere in the body. One of the deadliest places cancer can develop is in the pancreas. The most common type of pancreatic tumor is the exocrine tumor, rather than an endocrine, or neuroendocrine tumor. About 95% of all exocrine tumors are adenocarcinomas, which form in gland cells beginning in the ducts of the pancreas, but they sometimes develop from the cells that make the pancreatic enzymes. These tumors are almost always malignant, and only about 1% of the people diagnosed with an exocrine tumor survive past five years. Pancreatic cancer is one of the most deadly diseases out there; there are little, working treatment options, but with the newest developments available, more effective solutions can help heal these patients.
Pancreatic cancer is thought to result through the successive accumulation of gene mutations along with other issues as well (Heinemann). Some of these risk factors include age, race, gender, tobacco, obesity, diabetes, family history, occupational exposure, genetic syndromes, and other problems of the pancreas and liver such as cirrhosis or chronic pancreatitis (American Cancer Society). The risk of developing this disease increases with age; the average age at the time of diagnosis is 71 (American Cancer Society). Gender-wise, men are 30% more likely to develop pancreatic cancer because of increased tobacco use in men (American Cancer Society).
