Anatomy & Physiology
Most common cancer site in the pancreas
head of pancreas (60-70%)
The most common behavioural etiology
smoking cigarettes (20%)
The common technique used for pancreatic cancer
SBRT
Invasion of this part leads to jaundice
common bile duct - adjacent to head of pancreas, compression/invasion leads to bile backup, and thus obstructive jaundice
% of patients that present with mets at diagnosis
50%
Common side effects
fatigue, skin irritation, nausea & vomiting, weight loss, etc.
3 adjacent vasculature --> affects tumour resection
Superior mesenteric artery (AMA), celiac axis/trunk, portal vein (SMV)
A genetic mutation linked to pancreatic cancer
p16 gene mutation + familial pancreatic cancer
familial breast cancer w/BRCA1 mutation
Lynch Syndrome H
- diseases stages >2
- unresectable tumours
- shrink tumour
since often found at later stages, RT is a common approach