The National Cancer Institute reports that pancreatic cancer is diagnosed in 29,000 people in the United States each year, and is the fifth leading cause of cancer death. Located in the abdomen behind the stomach, the pancreas secretes hormones that tell the body whether to use or store energy extracted from food or enzymes that aid in digestion. Pancreatic cancer occurs when the pancreatic cells transform into a new type of cell that grows uncontrollably and damages the tissues around it.
Ductal Cancers
Merck Manuals, an online medical library, reports that ductal cancers are the most common form of pancreatic cancer. This type of cancer appears 1.5 to 2 times more commonly in men. According to the American Cancer Society, ductal cells are part of the exocrine system, which secrete pancreatic fluid into the intestines to aid in digestion. The most common of ductal cancers is ductal adenocarcinoma; other types of ductal cancers include adenosquamous carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and giant cell carcinoma. These ductal cell cancers can be distinguished from one another based upon their appearance under a microscope.
Ampullary Cancer
The American Cancer Society reports that this type of cancer affects the cells at the junction of the bile duct and the pancreatic duct, which is the place where these two organs empty their contents into the intestines. These cancers often grow in a manner where they obstruct the bile duct and can cause jaundice, which is characterized by yellowing of the eyes and skin, and the production of very dark urine. Because of this very visible sign, ampullary cancer is usually detected very early, and thus the prognosis is often more optimistic than other types of pancreatic cancer.
Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors
The American Cancer Society reports that sometimes pancreatic cancer starts in a type of endocrine cell called an islet cell, which makes insulin and other hormones. This type of cancer is much less common than other types of pancreatic cancer. Subtypes of this cancer are named based upon what hormone the cancerous cell produces. Examples of these cancers include: insulinomas, involving cells that make insulin; glucagonomas, involving cells that make glucagon; gastrinomas, involving cells that make gastrin.
