The pancreas is a thin, long gland behind your stomach next to the duodenum, (the first part of the small intestine) lying across the spine. 
  The pancreas has two functions: 

• It makes enzymes needed for digestion. 
• It produces hormones, including insulin, for the body to use glucose.

• The incidence of pancreatic cancer has increased throughout the world. 
• It is the fourth most common cancer in men. 
• It is the fifth most common cancer in women. 
• Eighty percent of pancreatic cancer occurs in people over age 50. 
• Unlike other cancers, such as colon or breast, it is difficult to detect in it's early stages. 

• People with exposure to carcinogens (cancer causing agents) are at an increased risk 
• Though rare, heredity can play a role. 
• Pancreatic cancer is three to four times more common in people who smoke. 

• Dull, continuous abdominal pain (less pain when leaning forward, more when lying down) 
• Pain in the middle of your back 
• Jaundice (yellowing of skin and whites of eyes), often accompanied by itching of the skin 
• Rapid weight loss 
• Chronic nausea or diarrhea 
• Weakness 
• Enlarged liver and gallbladder 
• Clay or light colored stools 

•     History of your symptoms 
•     Physical examination 
•     Lab tests for anemia and blood sugar 
•     Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancratogram (ERCP) 
•     CT scan or MRCP 

• Options might be: 
• An operation to remove the mass 
• Chemotherapy 
• Radiation therapy 
• If a surgical cure is not possible, surgery might still be used to relieve an obstruction of the bile duct or stomach.

Follow up care:

• Control symptoms 
• Eat small frequent meals 
• Rest 
• Pain medication if prescribed 
• Wound care 
• Bile tube care if necessary 
• Resume normal activity 
• A follow-up appointment 

Call your doctor if:

• Skin or eyes become yellow 
• Temperature is over 100 degrees for more than 24 hours 
• Redness, swelling, or unusual drainage from wound 
• Opening of suture line 
• Nausea, vomiting, shaking, or chills