Pancreatic Cancer

The pancreas is an organ that sits deep behind the stomach and makes digestive juices and insulin. Pancreatic cancer has almost no early symptoms, so it is often found late, but treatments keep improving, and outcomes are much better when it is found while surgery is still possible.

• Weight loss and loss of appetite for no clear reason
• Constant pain in the upper abdomen that spreads towards the back
• Yellowing of the eyes and skin (jaundice), and darker urine
• Diabetes that appears suddenly, or well-controlled diabetes that gets worse

These symptoms are common in other illnesses too, but if they continue, have them checked in gastroenterology.

Diagnosis starts in gastroenterology (abdominal CT and MRI, endoscopic ultrasound), and treatment is shared by hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery and by medical oncology. Pancreatic surgery tends to have better results at hospitals with a lot of experience, so if you are told surgery is possible, it is worth looking for a hospital that performs many pancreatic operations.

Depending on the stage and the location, surgery (such as the Whipple operation), chemotherapy and radiotherapy are combined. Recently, the strategy of shrinking the tumor with chemotherapy before surgery has also become widely used. Do not put up with pain or digestive problems; tell your medical team and there are ways to control them.

When cancer is confirmed, register at the hospital for the special cost-sharing program for serious illness (산정특례) (5% out-of-pocket cost, for 5 years). You can get advice on treatment and support programs from the National Cancer Information Center (1577-8899).