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. Read the rest of this entry →