<strong>Pancreatic Cancer Takes the life of Actress Bonnie Franklin 3/1/2013.</strong>

<a href="http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-cm-bonnie-franklin-dies-at-69-20130301,0,6152971.story" target="_blank">Read the story</a>.
<h2>What is Pancreatic Cancer?</h2>
<span>Pancreatic cancer begins in the tissues of<span id="dtx-highlighting-item"> your </span>pancreas — an organ in<span id="dtx-highlighting-item"> your </span>abdomen that lies horizontally behind the lower part of<span id="dtx-highlighting-item"> your </span>stomach.<span id="dtx-highlighting-item"> Your </span>pancreas secretes enzymes that aid digestion and hormones that help regulate the metabolism of sugars.</span>

Pancreatic cancer often has a poor prognosis, even when diagnosed early. Pancreatic cancer typically spreads rapidly and is seldom detected in its early stages, which is a major reason why it’s a leading cause of cancer death. Signs and symptoms may not appear until pancreatic cancer is quite advanced and surgical removal isn’t possible.
<h2>Understanding<span id="dtx-highlighting-item"> your </span>pancreas</h2>
<span><span id="dtx-highlighting-item">Your </span>pancreas is about 6 inches (15 centimeters) long and looks something like a pear lying on its side. The pancreas is a crucial part of<span id="dtx-highlighting-item"> your </span>digestive system. It secretes hormones, including insulin, to help<span id="dtx-highlighting-item"> your </span>body process sugar. And it produces digestive juices to help<span id="dtx-highlighting-item"> your </span>body digest food.</span>
<h2>How pancreatic cancer forms</h2>
<span>Pancreatic cancer occurs when cells in<span id="dtx-highlighting-item"> your </span>pancreas develop genetic mutations. These mutations cause the cells to grow uncontrollably and to continue living after normal cells would die. These accumulating cells can form a tumor.</span>
<h2>Types of pancreatic cancer</h2>
The types of cells involved in a pancreatic cancer help determine the best treatment. Types of pancreatic cancer include:
<ul>
	<li><strong>Cancer that forms in the pancreas ducts (adenocarcinoma).</strong> Cells that line the ducts of the pancreas help produce digestive juices. The majority of pancreatic cancers are adenocarcinomas. Sometimes these cancers are called exocrine tumors.</li>
	<li><strong>Cancer that forms in the hormone-producing cells.</strong> Cancer that forms in the hormone-producing cells of the pancreas is called endocrine cancer. Endocrine cancers of the pancreas are very rare.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Symptoms of Pancreatic Cancer</h2>
Signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer often don’t occur until the disease is advanced. When signs and symptoms do appear, they may include:
<ul>
	<li><span>Upper abdominal pain that may radiate to<span id="dtx-highlighting-item"> your </span>back</span></li>
	<li><span>Yellowing of<span id="dtx-highlighting-item"> your </span>skin and the whites of<span id="dtx-highlighting-item"> your </span>eyes (jaundice)</span></li>
	<li>Loss of appetite</li>
	<li>Weight loss</li>
	<li>Depression</li>
	<li>Blood clots</li>
</ul>
<h2>Resources For Pancreatic Cancer</h2>
<a href="http://www.mdanderson.org/patient-and-cancer-information/cancer-information/cancer-types/pancreatic-cancer/index.html?cmpid=google_cancer_treatment_pancreatic_ppc&amp;gclid=CJKuor_g0qsCFYlM4Aodyi28VA" target="_blank">MD Anderson website</a>

<a href="http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/pancreatic/Patient" target="_blank">National Cancer Institute</a>

<a href="http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/401.cfm" target="_blank">Memorial Sloan Kettering</a>