FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions About Pancreatic Cancer:

-What is the pancreas?
-What does the pancreas do?
-What is cancer?
-What is the difference between a benign or malignant tumor?
-How does cancer spread?
-Where does pancreatic cancer begin?
-What is islet cell cancer?
-What is metastatic pancreatic cancer?
-Is pancreatic cancer contagious?
-What causes pancreatic cancer?
-If I think I may be at risk, what should I do?
-What are the symptoms of pancreatic cancer?
-How is pancreatic cancer diagnosed?
-What is staging?
-What kinds of questions should I ask my doctor(s)?
-Should I participate in a clinical trial?
-What is palliative therapy?
-What is an oncologist?
-Should I get a second opinion?
-What are the available treatment options?
-When is surgery possible?
-What types of surgical procedures are performed to treat pancreatic cancer?
-What is radiation therapy?
-What is chemotherapy?
-What are the possible side effects?
-How is pain controlled?
-Are there support groups for people with pancreatic cancer?
-What are clinical trials?
-What about alternative treatments?

Source: http://www.pancreatic.org/site/c.htJYJ8MPIwE/b.891925/k.D9AB/Frequently_Asked_Questions_about_Pancreatic_Cancer.htm

Did You Know?

Over 90% of all carcinoid/NETs are incorrectly diagnosed and treated for the wrong disease

From initial onset of systems the average time to proper diagnosis exceeds five years

More than 12,000 new cases of carcinoid/NETs are diagnosed each year

Physicians still believe that carcinoid tumors are benign, slow growing and do not metastasize

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Crohn’s disease are the two most common misdiagnosed conditions for patients with midgut carcinoid

Abdominal pain, flushing, diarrhea, wheezing, bloating, heart palpitation, weakness, skin rash, heartburn and weight changes are the most prevalent carcinoid/NETsymptoms

At least 115,000 people are living with carcinoid/NETs in the United States

Source: http://www.carcinoid.org/sites/default/files/DID%20YOU%20KNOW%2010-12%20.2.pdf

Disclaimer: The website resources provided above are intended to be solely for informational purposes and should not be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.