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The pancreas contains two different kinds of glands. Exocrine glands make up a vast majority of the cells in the pancreas, and a much smaller number of cells are endocrine cells. The cells of both types of glands can produce tumors, but they produce different types of tumors.
It is hard to detect pancreatic cancer early. By the time a person has symptoms such as back pain, weight loss, jaundice, or recent diagnosis of diabetes, the cancer is usually large and has spread to other organs. Because the pancreas is deep inside the body, the doctor cannot see or feel tumors during a routine physical exam.
To confirm a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer and its size and exact location, the doctor will perform imaging tests such as CT scan, MRI, PET scan, ultrasound, angiography, and ERCP. There are several other tests, including blood tests, the doctor might use to learn more about a tumor, but the only way to know for sure if cancer is really present is with a biopsy.
The three main types of treatment for pancreatic cancer are surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Depending on the stage of the cancer, more than one of these treatments may be used.
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