As the leading cause of blindness, kidney failure, amputations, heart failure, and stroke, diabetes is not a disease not to be taken lightly. In fact, diabetes is the 7th leading cause of death in the United States alone. Diabetes costs the American people more than $322 billion dollars a year to manage (up from $245 […]
The pancreas is a much needed organ that not only helps with the digestive process, but maintains your body’s blood sugar levels by keeping a perfect balance with the help of hormones such as insulin and glucagon, among others. As with all organs in our bodies, the pancreas is susceptible to several disorders that can […]
A pancreaticodudectomy, otherwise known as the Whipple Procedure, is a demanding surgical operation on your pancreas. Used for the treatment of pancreatic cancer arising from the head of the pancreas, bile duct, or duodenum, this procedure has been proven as promising so long as the cancer has not spread to any other areas of the […]
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver due to a viral infection. Although categorized generically as liver disease, there are many differences between the types of hepatitis including virus type, transmission route, and treatment protocols. The one similarity all hepatitis types share is the fact that it is possible you might have hepatitis and not […]
Approximately 3% of cancer patients are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Though multiple options exist, sometimes surgery is the best method of treatment. For patients whose cancer has not yet spread, there are a surprising number of pancreatic cancer treatment options that attack the disease before it becomes unmanageable. Surgery is so often paired with other […]
Before explaining the Whipple procedure, it may be helpful to explain the anatomy of the pancreas and its surrounding area. The pancreas is responsible for producing enzymes necessary to the digestive process and even produces insulin and other hormones. The pancreas has four “parts”: The head The neck The body The tail It is connected […]
You probably have heard of cancer being described as Stage IV before. But do you understand what the different stages of cancer are and what they mean? Doctors stage cancer based on how far the cancer has spread throughout the body. By categorizing cancer growth into stages, it enables doctors to have a short-hand way […]
Are You at Risk? The Top Causes of Pancreatic Cancer Nearly 50,000 men and women are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer each year. Many people begin experiencing symptoms, but without pre-screening go undiagnosed until it has progressed. Understanding the causes and risk factors associated with pancreatic cancer is the first step to catching it early. About […]
Pancreatic Cancer: A Review of Surgical Treatment Options More than 46,000 new cases of pancreatic cancer are diagnosed each year, many cases proving fatal without intervention. Radiation therapy and chemotherapy are helpful alternatives, but despite the existence of multiple treatment options, surgery is the best method of treatment for many patients with pancreatic cancer. While […]
