CLAWS OF DEATH – THE SILENT CANCER

The pancreas is a pear-shaped gland located in the abdomen between the stomach and the spine. It is about 6 inches in length and it makes hormones and enzymes that help the body digest and break down food. One of the hormones the pancreas produces is insulin, which is an important substance that helps control the amount of sugar in the blood.

Pancreatic cancer is a disease in which normal cells in a gland called the pancreas malfunction and begin to grow out of control. If not treated or removed, these cancerous cells will eventually form a growth or tumor, which can interfere with proper functioning of the pancreas and spread to cause cancer in other parts of the body.

The enzymes produced by the pancreas are released into ducts, which lead to the common bile duct and then into the small intestine. It is in these ducts that most pancreatic cancers begin and this type of cancer is referred to as pancreatic cancer or carcinoma of the pancreas.

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 glucagon, that help to control blood sugar levels. Both of these hormones help the body use and store the energy it gets from food.

Pancreatic cancer is difficult to detect and diagnose for the following reasons:

There aren’t any noticeable signs or symptoms in the early stages of pancreatic cancer. The signs of pancreatic cancer, when present, are like the signs of many other illnesses. Other symptoms include weight loss, fatigue, discomfort in the abdomen, loss of appetite, and glucose intolerance.

Rani, aged 52 who had pancreatic cancer, oblivious of her condition came to Dr J S Rajkumar for consultation for Jaundice. Tests revealed that her cancer had spread to other organs and it was in an inoperable stage, blocking Stomach and Gall bladder and the bile duct. A triple bypass was performed, bypassing the pancreas, the gall bladder and leading the digestive juices in the small intestine. Unlike a regular triple bypass done with a large incision, in this case, the entire procedure was done laparoscopically , using special laparoscopic suturing. She had a very smooth postoperative period.

In the postoperative ward Rani, looked cheerful and happy to know that she got timely help to be out of the claws of the treacherous cancer. Now her jaundice has settled and her stomach is no longer obstructed.

A patient needed a brain transplant and the doctor told the family, "Brains are very expensive, and you will have to pay the costs yourselves."

"Well, how much does a brain cost?" asked the relatives.

"For a male brain, $500,000. For a female brain, $200,000," replied the doctor.

Some of the younger male relatives tried to look shocked, but all the men nodded because they thought they understood.

But the patient's daughter was dissatisfied and asked, "Why the difference in price between male brains and female brains?"

"Standard pricing practice," said the doctor.

"Women's brains have to be marked down because they've actually been used."

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