Ravanpak and Blackmon1

Myah Blackmon and Mandana Ravanpak

Ms. Kasyanik
HSa English 9 Honors 2A
06 May 2015
The Stages of Pancreatic Cancer
About 48,960 people will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the United States in
2015, and 40,560 of those diagnosed will die from it (Miller). However, even with these drastic
statistics many are unaware of what pancreatic cancer is. The pancreas is an organ located
deep within the abdomen, between the stomach and spine and has many important functions.
There are four stages of pancreatic cancer, and as the stage increases the cancer will become
more terminal (The Stages of Pancreatic Cancer). Once diagnosed with pancreatic cancer,
patients go through difficult times that are both physical and emotional, and in some cases they
do not understand the extent of the disease.
Stage 1 of pancreatic cancer is divided into two subgroups: Stage 1A and Stage 1B.
They are also known as T1 and T2 in Tumor, Node, Metastasis (T. N. M.) (The Stages of
Pancreatic Cancer). "Stage 1 means the cancer is completely inside the pancreas and has not
spread to the lymph nodes (The Stages of Pancreatic Cancer). According to The Stages of
Pancreatic Cancer, Stage 1A means that the cancer is completely inside the pancreas and is
smaller than 2 cm. The next subgroup of stage 1, Stage 1B, is when the cancer is completely
inside the pancreas but is only bigger than 2 cm. This means that the cancer has not spread to
the lymph nodes or other areas of the body (Stages of Pancreatic Cancer). In early stages of
diagnosis, it is fortunate that the cancer has not spread anywhere else. If the patient were to be
diagnosed in later stages, the tumor would cause damage to the surrounding tissues or the
lymph nodes which are responsible for filtering harmful substances in the body. "Unfortunately,
the signs of early stage pancreatic cancer are vague, and often attributed to other problems by

Ravanpak and Blackmon2

both patients and physicians. More specific symptoms tend to develop after the tumor has
advanced and grown (Pancreatic Cancer: The Basics).
Stage 2 of pancreatic cancer, like stage 1, is also split into two subgroups: Stage 2A and
Stage 2B. This means that the cancer is starting to grow into nearby tissues around the
pancreas, so it may be in the duodenum or the bile duct (The Stages of Pancreatic Cancer).
During stage 2A, there is no cancer in the nearby large blood vessels or lymph nodes. This
means that, although the cancer has been growing locally, there is a chance that it may not
have spread through the blood or lymph systems. In TNM staging, this is the same as T3, N0,
M0" (The Stages of Pancreatic Cancer). During stage 2B, the cancer can be any size and
may have grown into the tissues surrounding the pancreas. Cancer is also found in the nearby
lymph nodes, but not the large blood vessels. In TNM staging, this is the same as T1, 2 or 3,
N1, M0" (The Stages of Pancreatic Cancer). When the physicians talk about staging, they are
referring to determining the size of the tumor and if it has spread or not. This information is then
used to determine the best treatment. In the case of pancreatic cancer, the size of the tumor
and whether or not it involves important blood vessels determines if it can be surgically
removed (Pancreatic Cancer: The Basics).
Stage three of pancreatic cancer also referred to as T3 in the Tumor Node Metastasis
(T.N.M.) means that the tumor is still in the pancreas, but is more than 2 cm across any direction
which means patients are at a crucial point (The Stages of Pancreatic Cancer). Usually
patients reach this point because of late diagnoses. Normally most pancreatic cancers are
diagnosed in the late stages, stage three and four, because of the pancreas being located deep
within the abdominal cavity (Pancreatic Cancer). These late diagnosis are the cause of 80% of
patients not surviving the first year after initial diagnosis (Pancreatic Cancer). However, even
with the tumors closing in on vital organs there are still treatment options such as chemotherapy
and surgery (Pancreatic Cancer Treatment). If chemotherapy is able to shrink the tumor or if

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the tumor is originally still able to be removed, the most common surgical procedure would be
the pancreaticoduodenectomy, or Whipple procedure (Stage III Pancreatic).
Stage four of pancreatic cancer also referred as T4 is the most terminal/advanced stage
it is when the cancer has grown outside the pancreas into blood vessels (The Stages of
Pancreatic Cancer). There are two kinds of stage four cancer one of the being 4A meaning the
cancer is locally confined the other is 4B meaning the cancer has spread to distant organs
making the patient metastatic (Stage III Pancreatic). For those diagnosed with 4A pancreatic
cancer that is not surgically removable, life expectancy is only a few months (The Stages of
Pancreatic Cancer). Those who have locally confined cancer have 8-12 months. Once the
cancer has spread to the blood vessels it can also spread to the liver or lungs (The Stages of
Pancreatic Cancer). Overall, in stage four the only treatments and surgeries are to relieve
patients of pain and stall the cancer enabling patients to have a few more months. The critical
importance of stage 4 requires patients to have strong support systems due to the fragile
emotional state treatment as well as fear of the cancer has left them with.
Patients go through many hardships both emotionally and physically once diagnosed
with pancreatic cancer and yet many people are not even aware of the extent of it. The stages
of pancreatic cancer consist of stages one, two, three, and four. Each stage also consists of
different categories which are very important for treatment although they are frequently
overlooked. However, awareness is slowly being spread and soon their communities will be able
to support and inform those diagnosed.
Outline

ATTENTION-GETTER: About 48,960 people will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the
United States in 2015, and 40,560 of those diagnosed will die from it (Miller). However, even
with these drastic statistics many are unaware of what pancreatic cancer is

Ravanpak and Blackmon4

SPECIFIC POINTS (3-5 sentences): The pancreas is an organ located deep within the abdomen,
between the stomach and spine and has many important functions. There are four stages of
pancreatic cancer, and as the stage increases the cancer will become more terminal (The Stages
of Pancreatic Cancer)
THESIS (SO WHAT?): Once diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, patients go through difficult
times that are both physical and emotional, and in some cases they do not understand the extent
of the disease.
Stage 1 of pancreatic cancer is divided into two subgroups: Stage 1A and Stage 1B. They are
also known as T1 and T2 in Tumor, Node, Metastasis (T. N. M.).
1.

There is stage 1A

a.

Stage 1A means that the cancer is completely inside the pancreas (Stages of Pancreatic

Cancer)
b.

...smaller than 2 cm (Stages of Pancreatic Cancer)

2.

There is a stage 1B

a.

the cancer is completely inside the pancreas but is only bigger than 2 cm (Stages of

Pancreatic Cancer)
b.

the cancer has not spread to the lymph nodes or other areas of the body (Stages of

Pancreatic Cancer)
"Unfortunately, the signs of early stage pancreatic cancer are vague, and often attributed to other
problems by both patients and physicians. More specific symptoms tend to develop after the
tumor has advanced and grown (Pancreatic Cancer: The Basics)
Stage 2 of pancreatic cancer, like stage 1, is also split into two subgroups: Stage 2A and Stage
2B.

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1.

There is stage 2A

a.

there is no cancer in the nearby large blood vessels or lymph nodes (Stages of Pancreatic

Cancer).
b.

... although the cancer has been growing locally, there is a chance that it may not have

spread through the blood or lymph systems. (Stages of Pancreatic Cancer)

2.

There is stage 2B

a.

the cancer can be any size and may have grown into the tissues surrounding the pancreas

(Stages of Pancreatic Cancer).

b.

Cancer is also found in the nearby lymph nodes, but not the large blood vessels (Stages

of Pancreatic Cancer)
When the physicians talk about staging, they are referring to determining the size of the tumor
and if it has spread or not. This information is then used to determine the best treatment. In the
case of pancreatic cancer, the size of the tumor and whether or not it involves important blood
vessels determines if it can be surgically removed (Pancreatic Cancer: The Basics).
CONCLUSION:
Patients go through many hardships both emotionally and physically once diagnosed with
pancreatic cancer and yet many people are not even aware of the extent of it. The stages of
pancreatic cancer consist of stages one, two, three, and four. Each stage also consists of different
categories which are very important for treatment although they are frequently overlooked.
However, awareness is slowly being spread and soon their communities will be able to support
and inform those diagnosed.

Ravanpak and Blackmon6

Works Cited
"Pancreatic Cancer Treatment (PDQ): Treatment - Health Professional Information [NCI]Stage III Pancreatic Cancer Treatment." WebMD. WebMD.2015. Web. 19 Apr.2015.
<http://www.webmd.com/cancer/pancreatic-cancer/tc/pancreatic-cancer-treatment-pdqtreatment---health-professional-information-nci-stage-iii-pancreatic-cancer-treatment>.
"Pancreatic cancer." World of Health. Gale, 2007. Science in Context. Web. 15 Apr. 2015
"Stage III Pancreatic Cancer." - University of New Mexico Cancer Center. n. d. Web. 14 Apr.
2015. <http://cancer.unm.edu/cancer/cancer-info/types-of-cancer/pancreatic-cancer/stage-iiipancreatic-cancer/>.

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"The Stages of Pancreatic Cancer." Cancer Research U.K. .May 28 2014. Web. 19 Apr. 2015.
<http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/type/pancreatic-cancer/treatment/the-stagesof-pancreatic-cancer>.
"The Stages of Pancreatic Cancer." Cancer Research U.K. May 28 2014. Web. 19 Apr. 2015.
<http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/type/pancreatic-cancer/treatment/the-stagesof-pancreatic-cancer>.
Miller, Lara B. "Pancreatic Cancer: The Basics." OncoLink. Penn Medicine, 18 Feb. 2011. Web.
20 Apr. 2015. <http://www.oncolink.org/types/article.cfm?c=172&aid=48&id=1739>.