The pancreas is a spongy, tube-shaped organ about 6 inches long. It is located in the back of the abdomen, behind the stomach. The pancreas has two main jobs in the body. To produce juices that help digest (break down) food. To produce hormones, such as insulin and glucagons, that helps control blood sugar levels. Both of these hormones help the body use and store the energy it gets from food.

Pancreatic cancer is a disease in which malignant cells are found in the tissues of the pancreas. It is also called exocrine cancer. Pancreatic cancer is sometimes called a “silent killer” because early pancreatic cancer often does not cause symptoms. Pancreatic cancer is usually diagnosed with tests and procedures that produce pictures of the pancreas and the area around it. Pancreatic cancer typically spreads rapidly and is seldom detected in its early stages, which is a major reason why it’s a leading cause of cancer death.

The three ways that cancer spreads in the body are, through tissue. Cancer invades the surrounding normal tissue and through the lymph system. Cancer invades the lymph system and travels through the lymph vessels to other places in the body. Some risk factors for developing pancreatic cancer include Smoking, Long-term diabetes, chronic pancreatitis, certain hereditary disorders.