Malignant tumors of the pancreas are relatively rare but have a poor prognosis. This is mainly because they are usually not detected until they are at an advanced stage. Unfortunately, pancreatic cancer (pancreatic carcinoma) only has a chance of being cured in a few cases. Malignant tumors in the pancreas are almost always caused by degeneration of the mucosal cells of the glandular ducts. Only about five percent of cases involve so-called endocrine tumors, which originate in the islets of Langerhans scattered throughout the tissue and produce hormones.
Incidence of pancreatic cancer.
Approximately 10,000 people are newly diagnosed with pancreatic cancer each year. It mainly affects people between the ages of 65 and 80, and men and women are almost equally affected. In men, pancreatic cancer ranks 10th among all cancers in Germany, and ninth among women.
About three percent of all cancers are malignant neoplasms in the pancreas, but six to seven percent of all cancer-related deaths are due to them. This makes them the fourth leading cause of cancer death in both men and women.
Pancreatic cancer: prospects for cure slim
There is little chance of cure for pancreatic cancer, with more than 90 percent of those affected dying within five years of diagnosis. Pancreatic cancer is thus one of the cancers with the poorest prognosis.
Causes of pancreatic cancer.
Although it is not yet clear exactly what causes the malignant growths. However, quite a few risk factors are suspected to increase the likelihood of pancreatic cancer:
- These include, above all, tobacco and alcohol consumption.
- Also suspected is a diet rich in animal fats and poor in fruits and vegetables.
- Diabetes and recurrent inflammation of the pancreas also probably increase the risk.
- In addition, hereditary factors play a role, also environmental factors such as weed killers, heavy metals and car exhaust may have a negative impact.
- People who have undergone stomach surgery also seem to be more likely to be affected by pancreatic cancer.
