The pancreas is located deep in the abdomen, behind the stomach and in front of the spine. It has…

The pancreas is located deep in the abdomen, behind the stomach and in front of the spine. It has 2 main functions, to produce digestive juices for the small intestine to digest and absorb food and to produce hormones such as insulin to assist cells to absorb nutrients and regulate blood glucose levels. Pancreatic cancer occurs when pancreas cells develop abnormal DNA mutations that make them grow and divide out of control, forming a tumor. Sometimes this tumor spreads to other organs such as the liver, abdominal wall, lymph nodes, lungs, or bones.

Conditions that increase risk of pancreatic cancer include smoking, chronic pancreatitis, obesity, long-standing diabetes, a strong family history of pancreatic cancer, and diets high in red and processed meats.