The month of November is the Pancreatic Cancer Awareness month and we atOrthomed are here to provide awareness. The pancreases are glands which are about 6 inches long lying between the stomach and spine. The pancreas has two main jobs in the body which are to make juices enabling the breakdown of food and to make hormones such as insulin and glucogen helping to control blood sugar levels. Both of the hormones help the body to use and to store the energy from the food that is consumed. The digestive juices are made by exocrine pancreatic cells and the hormones are made by endocrine pancreatic cells. Most of the cancers begin in exocrine cells of the pancreas.
What happens when you get diagnosed?
The shock and stress which people feel after or before the diagnosis of cancer are common and it is difficult to think of the questions you wish to ask when you attend the doctor or pancreatic specialist in Chennai. Most often, it will be easier to make a list of questions before you make an appointment and bringing in a family or a friend with you will help you when you talk to the doctor to take part in the discussion, take notes, or just listening can help. Always remember one thing in mind, the doctor is there to answer your questions, so shoot away and do not be afraid of the opinion or question any action or a procedure.
Here are some common questions that you might wish to ask your endocrine specialist
- What type of pancreatic cancer you have?
- Is it hereditary?
- Can cancer spread to other parts?
- What kinds of treatments are available and what would he/she advise?
- What are the risks and possible side effects of each treatment?
- Can you be treated as an outpatient or stay in the hospital?
- How long will the treatment take?
- Will you have pain from the treatment? What can be done to mitigate it?
- Will you need to change your diet after treatment?
- Will the treatment affect sexually or physically?
- Are there any alternative treatments for the case? In case of no! Why not?
- Are there any clinical trials that you need to know?
- How often do they have to come for a check-up and what do they involve?
- Does taking a second opinion helps in the case?
- How much does it cost and what happens if you don’t wish to take treatments.
What do you do next?
Patients who present themselves with one or more signs and symptoms suggest that pancreatic cancer needs quick investigation. This can be done by a CT scan or a PET-CT scan and early referral to the specialist unit for further investigations. The investigations and the tests can help the specialist team to diagnose, treat and monitor the condition. They are also called staging investigations. The results of the tests provide info about the abnormality in your pancreas and general health. The specialist team can also answer all your questions which are listed above to help you and your family make the most appropriate treatment choice for you
Note:
This Content Originally Published By Orthomed Hospital In Chennai. Source Link: https://www.orthomedhospital.com/blog/just-diagnosed-with-pancreatic-cancer-steps-to-do-next/
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