CT scan or CAT generally knows as Computerized axial tomography is another technique that produces detailed cross-sectional images of internal organs and tissues. Doctors first determine the extent of the disease through CT scanning, an accurate method of diagnosing and staging pancreatic cancer. Most commonly used test is ultrasound, which is affordable to almost every one. In this test high frequency sound waves are used that bounce off structures in the patient’s body. A computer translates these echoes into a sonogram image.

An endoscope (a long, thin, illuminated optic instrument) is passed through the patient’s mouth into the stomach. By using this instrument in combination with ultrasound images, it can be determined if the cancer has invaded adjacent veins or lymph glands. A type of MRI, MRCP allows the physician to get a picture of the pancreatic ducts, the internal channels of the pancreas that are a prime target of tumors.

T2 is next stage, in this strage tumour is more than 2cm and it is across in any direction. T3 means the cancer has started to grow into surrounding tissues around the pancreas, in the duodenum or the bile duct. Last stage of pancreatic is called sa T4, which means the cancer has grown further into the stomach, spleen, large bowel or nearby large blood vessels.

There is another type of cancer which is called as recurrent pancreatic cancer. This cancer is called as recurrent because the cancer has come back after it has been treated. It may come back in the pancreas or in another part of the body.

Locally advanced cancers of the pancreas are those that have grown too far to be completely removed by surgery, but have not yet reached distant parts of the body.

Surgery may be used alone or in combination with radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Doctors may use radiation to destroy cancer cells that remain in the area after surgery. They also use radiation to relieve pain and other problems caused by the cancer. Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to kill cancer cells. Doctors also give chemotherapy to help reduce pain and other problems caused by pancreatic cancer.

The Whipple operation is performed for pancreatic cancer that is located in the head of the pancreas. Adenocarcinoma of the body and tail of the pancreas is treated with a distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy. When pancreatic exocrine cancer recurs, it is essentially treated the same way as metastatic cancer, and is likely to include chemotherapy if the patient can tolerate it. If the cancer has spread, medications may be used to control symptoms. Surgery or ablative techniques may be used to treat metastases in the liver.

Cigarette smokers are two to three times more likely than nonsmokers to develop pancreatic cancer, and about three out of every 10 cases of pancreatic cancer are found to be linked to smoking. You may increase your risk if you have very high levels of fat and sugar in your diet, or if you eat large amounts of red or processed meats. About 7 out of 10 cases of chronic pancreatitis are due to long term heavy drinking.

Being overweight causes a small increase in the risk of pancreatic cancer.  This could be because overweight or inactive people make more insulin. Having a stomach ulcer may increase the risk of pancreatic cancer. This could be due to the types of bacteria that can live in the stomach after an operation for stomach ulcer. Diabetes is both a symptom of pancreatic cancer, and long-standing adult-onset diabetes also increases the risk of pancreatic cancer.