Yesterday actor Patrick Swayze, known for his performance in such films as "Dirty Dancing" and "Ghost", died of pancreatic cancer. What is this cancer, and how can you avoid this deadly condition?

Danger level: High

What is it?

Pancreatic cancer is a disease in which malignant cells form in the pancreas. It is the 4th leading cause of cancer-related death.

Who gets it?

In the US, more than 37,000 people are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer each year. It happens to about 8-10 people out of 100,000 each year.

It’s most common in African Americans. It’s also more common in people of Native Hawaiian, Korean, Czech, Latvian, and New Zealand Maori origin. It’s quite rare in India, where there are about 2 cases per 100,000 people.

Pancreatic cancer is related to age – After age 50, the risk for it increases. Most people diagnosed with it are in their 70s and 80s.

There are some risk factors, which increase your risk of having pancreatic cancer:

1. Smoking
2. Being overweight
3. A history of chronic pancreatitis – In you or someone in your close family
4. A history of pancreatic cancer – In you or someone in your close family

Patrick Swayze, in 2006. Photo by MoonSoleil

What causes it?

The pancreas is a large gland in our abdomen. It’s responsible for making two things: insulin, which helps our body control the level of sugar in our blood; and pancreatic juices, which help our body digest the foods we eat.

The pancreas has three parts: The head, the body and the tail. Cancer can develop in any of these parts. Most cancers develop in the head of the pancreas (it is the part that’s leftmost in the drawing above).

Cancer is a condition which develops when cells in our body start dividing more than they should, causing a growth in an organ called a tumor. As with most other cancers, the reason for it is unknown, although it is known that a chronic inflammation in the pancreas increases the risk.

How does it feel?

As mentioned above, the cells in the pancreas grow, creating a tumor. This tumor often spreads further from the pancreas, through the blood, to reach other organs.

Unfortunately, this cancer doesn’t cause any symptoms most of the time, until the disease has spread. When symptoms do appear, they may include:

1. Abdominal pain – Usually in the upper or middle abdomen. It can radiate to the back.
2. Jaundice – This is a yellow color in your skin or the whites of your eyes.
3. Loss of appetite
4. Weight loss
5. Fatigue

How is it discovered?

Usually this cancer is detected late, a fact which is responsible for the high death rate involved with it.

Usually it is discovered by taking images of the body by an ultrasound, CT scan or an MRI, although there are other methods as well.

When the cancer is found, it is important to stage it. This term means deciding which stage the cancer is in, or how much it has spread. The higher the stage, the more advanced the cancer is, and the less likely it is that it can be cured. Staging can be done by surgery to open your abdomen and look at the pancreas and other organs, by imaging the body and by taking a blood test called CA 19-9, which helps the doctor follow the cancer and see if it is spreading.

How is it treated?

There are a few types of treatment for this cancer. The one chosen depends on the stage of the disease, on your age, on your overall health and your personal preferences.

Treatment options include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy and sometimes some drugs.

What happens after treatment?

Unfortunately, the death rates for this cancer are high. If the cancer can’t be removed by surgery, people usually survive for about 4-6 months. If the cancer can be operated on, about 20% of people can live for 5 years after the surgery.

This video from this morning’s CBS News sums it up:

The bottom line – How do I avoid it?

There are a few things you can do to lower your chances of having pancreatic cancer:

1. Quit smoking
2. Maintain a healthy weight
3. Eat a balanced diet – The American Cancer Society recommends eating more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains while eating less red meat, although none of this has been actually proven.

What next?

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