Pancreatic Cancer Treatment in Turkey

Pancreatic Cancer Treatment in Turkey is an article that aims to give you all the information you do not know about pancreatic cancer treatment and more. We kindly shared the main headings with you;

When cells in your pancreas undergo mutation (change) and proliferate out of control, a tumor is formed. In your gut, between your spine and stomach, is a gland called the pancreas. It produces digestive enzymes and hormones that regulate blood sugar levels. The ducts of your pancreas are where most pancreatic malignancies begin. Your pancreas and common bile duct are connected by the major pancreatic duct (the duct of Wirsung).

When pancreatic cells experience DNA alterations, pancreatic cancer results, the instructions that inform a cell what to do are stored in its DNA. The instructions tell the cells in healthy cells to divide and grow at a specific rate. At a particular time, the cells expire. The modifications provide various instructions in cancer cells. The changes instruct the cancer cells to produce plenty of new cells quickly. When healthy cells die, cancer cells can continue to exist. As a result, there are too many cells.

A tumor may develop from the cancer cells. The tumor has the potential to spread and eat away at healthy body tissue. Cancer cells have the potential to separate over time and invade new organs. The cells that line the pancreatic ducts are where the majority of pancreatic cancers start. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma or pancreatic exocrine cancer are two names for this particular form of cancer. Less frequently, cancer can develop in the neuroendocrine or hormone-producing cells of the pancreas. Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors or pancreatic endocrine cancer are the names given to these cancers.

A risk factor is something that makes you more likely to contract a specific disease. Typical risk factors for pancreatic cancer include:

• Smoking cigars, cigarettes, and other tobacco products
• Obesity
• Type 2 diabetes in particular. Diabetes that suddenly appears could indicate pancreatic cancer.
• Exposure to particular chemicals, such as petrochemicals and insecticides
• Persistent pancreatic inflammation is known as chronic pancreatitis.
• Biological parent-to-child transmission of gene alterations (mutations) that cause hereditary chronic pancreatitis.
• Genetic changes (mutations), such as those in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes, are inherited from one biological parent to the next.

Invest in your health, invest in a brighter future. Our comprehensive medical programs deliver real results, while you indulge in the beauty and serenity of our destination.

Unfortunately, pancreatic cancer doesn’t have any early warning symptoms. Symptoms often appear once the tumor begins to affect other digestive system organs. If you recently have diabetes or pancreatitis, a painful condition brought on by pancreatic inflammation, your doctor may suspect pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic neuroendocrine cancer symptoms, such as jaundice or weight loss, can differ from those of conventional pancreatic cancer. Diarrhea and anemia are only two examples of the symptoms that can vary.

Common pancreatic cancer symptoms may include,

• Jaundice (yellowing of your skin)
• Dark urine (pee)
• Light-colored stool (poop)
• Upper abdominal pain
• Middle back pain
• Fatigue
• Itchy skin
• Nausea and vomiting
• Gas or bloating
• Lack of appetite
• Blood clots
• Weight loss

Early-stage pancreatic cancer is challenging to diagnose. This is due to the fact that ordinary checkups by a doctor cannot feel your pancreas and routine imaging tests make it challenging to see these tumors. Your doctor will advise a series of pancreas function tests if they suspect pancreatic cancer, which may include the following:

Imaging Tests

One or more of the imaging tests listed below may be required by your healthcare provider:

• CT (computed tomography) scans
• MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)
• PET (positron emission tomography)
• Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)

Genetic Testing

Consider genetic testing if you are told that you have pancreatic cancer. This can reveal whether your pancreatic cancer was caused by an inherited condition. Additionally, it might assist your doctor in choosing the course of treatment that will benefit you the greatest. BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations have been found in some cases of pancreatic cancer patients. Although you may be familiar with these genes as the “breast cancer genes,” mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 may also be indicative of pancreatic, ovarian, and prostate cancer.

Consider genetic testing if you are a first-degree family (parent, child, or sibling) of someone who has pancreatic cancer. If you have a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation, your results can reveal this to you. Remember that having the mutation does not guarantee that you will develop cancer. But it’s crucial to understand your risk.

Staging Laparoscopy

Laparoscopy is occasionally used by medical professionals to assess the severity of pancreatic cancer and whether it can be removed. An abdominal incision is made a few times during this treatment, and a lengthy tube with a camera is then inserted. They can use this to look for anomalies inside your abdomen. Frequently, a biopsy will be performed concurrently.

Blood Tests

A blood test for the pancreas can find tumor markers. A chemical known as a tumor marker can reveal the existence of cancer. High concentrations of carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9, a type of protein secreted by pancreatic cancer cells, may signify a tumor in cases of pancreatic cancer.

 

Are cancer screenings effective for pancreatic cancer treatment?

Typically, pancreatic cancer is not routinely screened for by healthcare professionals. However, medical professionals advise monitoring with imaging tests and endoscopic ultrasounds in persons who have a high chance of developing pancreatic cancer due to a genetic predisposition. You should discuss your risk of acquiring pancreatic cancer, appropriate screening procedures, and genetic testing with a healthcare professional if you have first-degree relatives (parents or siblings) who have the disease.

Imaging tests don’t detect early-stage pancreatic cancers. Because of this, a lot of people don’t get a diagnosis until the cancer has metastasized. Also notoriously challenging to cure, pancreatic cancer is resistant to many commonly prescribed cancer medications.

Four categories are used by healthcare professionals to classify pancreatic tumors:

• Resectable: The tumor exclusively affects your pancreas; no neighboring blood vessels or other organs are affected. It can be surgically removed by a provider.
• Borderline resectable: The tumor is in your pancreas and there is some involvement of neighboring blood arteries, but a surgeon can still remove it. It is considered to be borderline resectable.
• Locally advanced: At this stage, the tumor is located in your pancreas and has significantly affected the local blood vessels. In certain circumstances, surgical removal may be challenging or dangerous.
• Metastatic: Metastatic refers to the cancer’s progression to distant organs such as the liver, lungs, or abdominal cavity. It can spread to the lymph nodes, tissues, or organs close to your pancreas.

Consult your healthcare professional if you have any particular questions about the staging of pancreatic cancer. Making a decision about your therapy after learning more about your pancreatic cancer diagnosis can be beneficial.

Specific medical care is dependent on a number of variables, including:

• The precise area where the tumor is
• The stage of the cancer
• Your general well-being
• To what extent your pancreas has been affected by the cancer

Chemotherapy uses medicines to destroy cancer cells. These medications are administered by medical professionals as pills or IV drips into your arms. Chemotherapy is used as a stand-alone treatment by healthcare professionals, particularly for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. In order to reduce the size of the tumor before surgery or to eradicate any cancer cells still present after surgery, they may also advise chemotherapy.

High-energy X-rays are used in radiation therapy to kill cancer cells. This strategy is frequently used by medical professionals to treat pancreatic cancer. Chemoradiation, which combines radiation therapy with chemotherapy, is most frequently used. Before surgery, after surgery, or as part of your primary cancer treatment, they might advise it. In cases of advanced malignancy, radiation therapy can also be used to treat pancreatic cancer in patients who are ineligible for surgery.

Drugs that “target” particular proteins are used in this treatment. These proteins regulate the development and spread of cancer cells. Targeted therapy and other therapies, such as radiation therapy, may be combined by the providers. Typical pancreatic cancer-targeted treatment medications include:

• Erlotinib
• Olaparib
• Larotrectinib
• Entrectinib

The only effective treatment for pancreatic cancer is surgery. However, doctors only advise it when they believe they can completely eradicate the cancer. There is minimal to no advantage otherwise. The malignancy must be entirely contained to the pancreas for surgery to be effective. Even then, complete cancer eradication might not be feasible. Depending on the position and size of the tumor, various surgical procedures may be used:

 

• Whipple Procedure

Your doctor can advise the Whipple procedure if the tumor is in the head of your pancreas, which is the widest section of the organ and is located close to your small intestine. The first section of the small intestine, the duodenum, the gallbladder, a piece of the bile duct, and adjacent lymph nodes are all removed during this surgical procedure. The remaining bile duct and pancreas will subsequently be joined to your small intestine by your surgeon. Your digestive system gets restored as a result. Read more to know about Pancreatic Cancer Treatment in Turkey

 

• Distal Pancreatectomy

A distal pancreatectomy can be done by a surgeon if the tumor is in the tail of the pancreas. The tail and some of the body of your pancreas are removed by a surgeon during this treatment. They’ll typically also remove your spleen. Before having a distal pancreatectomy, your doctor may advise receiving specific vaccinations because your spleen aids in the fight against infections.

 

• Total Pancreatectomy

Your doctor can suggest a total pancreatectomy if the cancer has spread to every part of your pancreas but can still be removed via resection. The entire pancreas, gallbladder, and spleen, as well as a portion of the stomach and small intestine, are removed during this procedure.

Surgery for pancreatic cancer typically costs €8,570 in Turkey. Depending on the extent of the disease, the type of operation, and the clinic of choice, the lowest price for pancreatic cancer surgery in Turkey is €4,800 and can reach €19,000.

To calculate the cost of your specialized treatment you can use the cost calculator below.

Because it may affect adjacent nerves, pancreatic cancer may be extremely painful. Your healthcare practitioner may recommend oral drugs, anesthetics, or steroid injections to assist you in managing your pain. Inform your healthcare practitioner if you have pancreatic cancer and begin to experience excruciating discomfort. They can locate a remedy to lessen your problems.

Cancer of the pancreas cannot be prevented. However, there are steps you may take to reduce your risk:

• Avoid smoking
• Reduce your alcohol consumption
• Consume a lot of whole grains, fresh fruit, and veggies
• Limit your consumption of processed meals, sugary beverages, and red meat
• Reduce your exposure to dangerous chemicals like pesticides, petrochemicals, and asbestos
• Keep your weight at a healthy level

Living without a pancreas is conceivable, but there may be serious consequences. The insulin and other chemicals that your pancreas produces help to maintain healthy blood sugar levels. You will acquire diabetes and require insulin shots to survive if you don’t have a pancreas. You’ll also need to take pancreatic enzyme supplements to aid with digestion.

If you want to learn more about pancreatic cancer treatment you can contact us through the free consultation service the Medical Center Turkey team provides.