The pancreas is a gland about 6 inches long that is shaped like a thin pear lying on its side. The wider end of the pancreas is called the head, the middle section is called the body, and the narrow end is called the tail. The pancreas lies between the stomach and the spine.

The main functions of Pancreas in the body are-

·         To make juices that help digest (break down) food.

·         To make hormones, such as insulin and glucagon, that help control blood sugar levels. Both of these hormones help the body use and store the energy it gets from food.

The digestive juices are made by exocrine pancreas cells and the hormones are made by endocrine pancreas cells. 

Several types of growths can occur in the pancreas, including cancerous and noncancerous tumors. Pancreatic cancer is seldom detected at its early stages when it's most curable. This is because it often doesn't cause symptoms until after it has spread to other organs. Pancreatic cancer can develop either from exocrine cells or endocrine cells. The exocrine type is more common and is usually found at an advanced stage. Pancreatic endocrine tumors (islet cell tumors) are less common but have a better prognosis.

Signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer include -

·         Abdominal pain that radiates to your back

·         Loss of appetite or unintended weight loss

·         Yellowing of your skin and the whites of your eyes (jaundice)

·         Light-colored stools and Dark-colored urine

·         Itchy skin

·         New diagnosis of diabetes or existing diabetes that's becoming more difficult to control

·         Loss of appetite

·         Feeling very tired

Apart from the clinical features, certain Investigations can also be done if the doctor doubts Pancreatic Cancer. These include MRI, CT scan, PET scan, Blood tests, Tests for tumor markers, Abdominal Ultrasound etc. These tests help the doctor in confirming the diagnosis.

The treatments that can be used are -

·         Surgery

·         Radiation therapy

·         Chemotherapy

·         Chemo radiation therapy

·         Targeted therapy

All these treatments may have a number of side effects varying from person to person. Some of the commonest ones being

·         Appetite Loss

·         Constipation

·         Diarrhea

·         Edema (Swelling)

·         Fatigue

·         Hair Loss (Alopecia)

·         Memory or Concentration Problems

·         Mouth and Throat Problems

·         Nausea and Vomiting

·         Pain

·         Skin and Nail Changes

·         Sleep Problems 

Pancreatic cancer still remains a big challenge for the oncologist. The survival in these patients is very poor and also this disease causes various painful symptoms which are difficult to manage. Ayurveda treatments have shown to have a significant effect in reducing symptoms and improving quality of life in pancreatic cancer patients.

Ayurveda does not consider cancer as a distinct disease or set of diseases. Rather, ayurveda states that all diseases result from gross, systemic imbalances and malfunctions of the three Doshas.

Instead of using targeted therapies for destruction of the tumors, ayurvedic drugs/modes of treatment attempt to correct metabolic defects and restore normal tissue functions. Ayurveda also considers diet and environmental factors as important regulators of Agni and immunity, which in turn can increase risk for cancer. Ayurveda follows the principles of natural healing systems; hence the treatment prescribed has zero or no side effects. 

Some of the commonest herbs that are used for the treatment of cancer are-

Herbs used in ayurveda to combat cancer are Tulsi, Ashwagandha, Ginger, Turmeric, Garlic, Guggulu etc.

These herbs work by enhancing metabolism and reducing tissue damage, as

Antioxidants, analgesic, anti-inflammatory and by inducing the apoptosis in the cancerous cells i.e. preventing the cancer cells from growing abnormally. They give a boost to the immune system and increase stamina to fight against cancerous cells.

D. S. Research Centre offers a good blend of such herbs for the treatment of various types of Cancers. There have been thousands of patients who have survived and are living a quality life today. And there are many more Cancer patients taking treatment and looking forward to a better life.