Glossary

The belly; the part of the body that contains all of the structures between the chest and pelvis.

One of the approved chemotherapy drugs for pancreatic cancer, it inhibits cell division and promotes cell death. It is often given with gemcitabine.

Special cells in the pancreas that produce digestive enzymes.

Genetic changes that develop during a person’s lifetime, either as a random error made in DNA copying or as a result of harmful environmental factors.

Practice of inserting needles through the skin into specific points on the body to reduce pain or induce anesthesia.

Sudden, short-lived pain that subsides when healing occurs.

Cancer that begins with cells that line certain internal organs and have gland-like properties.

A drug that, when added to another drug, enhances the effects of pain medications.

A treatment given after surgery.

A document expressing a patient's choices regarding which types of care the patient wants and does not want and/or who will make medical decisions if the patient cannot do so.

An approved antineoplastic chemotherapy drug used to treat pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.

Procedure in which a local anesthetic is injected into the nerve root of the celiac plexus using guidance by ultrasonography or computed tomography to produce numbness or reduce pain.

Treatments that have not been scientifically tested and are used in place of traditional therapies. (See also Unconventional therapy.)

Enlargement of the ducts from the liver and pancreas at the point where they enter the small intestine; bile from the liver and secretions from the pancreas come through the ampulla of Vater to mix with food in the duodenum and aid digestion.

A drug that reduces pain; acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and aspirin are analgesics.

The condition of having a lower-than-normal number of red blood cells or quantity of hemoglobin. Anemia diminishes the capacity of the blood to carry oxygen.

Formation of new blood vessels; some cancer treatments work by blocking angiogenesis, called antiangiogenesis, with the goal of slowing or preventing tumor growth.

A condition marked by a diminished appetite and aversion to food. Patients with advanced cancer may have anorexia-related weight loss, or wasting.

Proteins in the plasma and serum of the immune system that help the body fight infections. Also called immunoglobulin.

A drug that thins the blood to reduce the risk of blood clots.

Drugs used to prevent or treat seizures; they may also be used to enhance the effect of pain medications.

Drugs used to treat depression; they may also be used to enhance the effect of pain medications.

Drugs that help to prevent and control nausea and vomiting.

A cancer drug that prevents the "building blocks" of the genetic code from being used.

Human-made or natural substances that may prevent or delay some types of cell damage.

Abnormal buildup of fluid in the belly area (abdomen) or pelvis.

Having no signs or symptoms of disease.

A first test, one to which future test results are compared.

Not cancerous; benign tumors do not spread to tissue near them or to other parts of the body.

Fluid made by the liver and stored in the gallbladder; bile is excreted into the small intestine, where it helps digest fat.

A tube in the liver through which bile passes.

Dark-green substance formed when red blood cells are broken down. The bilirubin is part of the bile; the abnormal buildup of bilirubin because of an obstruction causes jaundice.

Treatment with drugs that boost the body's disease-fighting ability (immunotherapy) and drugs that kill fast-growing cells (chemotherapy).

The use of pulsed energy or magnetic fields to change the body’s electromagnetic fields and treat illness.

Various forms of energy work to assist in healing.

Treatments used to help the immune system fight disease in the body.

A measurable substance found in body fluid or tissue that may be a sign of disease or infection.

Process of removing tissue samples, which are then tested in a lab to check for disease.

Tissue removed from the body and examined under a microscope to determine whether disease is present.

Cancer that is confined to the pancreas but that approaches nearby structures or causes severe symptoms, so that it might not be possible to remove all the cancer with surgery.

The small and large intestine.

A gene that normally helps to suppress cell growth; a person who inherits an altered version of this gene has a higher risk of getting breast, ovarian, or prostate cancer, and possibly pancreatic cancer.

A gene that normally helps to suppress cell growth; a person who inherits an altered version of this gene has a higher risk of getting breast, ovarian, prostate, or pancreatic cancer.

A procedure used with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP); a small brush is inserted through an endoscope and into the bile duct and pancreatic duct to scrape the inside of the ducts to collect cells for examination.

A protein on the surface of certain types of cells that is shed by tumor cells into the bloodstream; higher-than-normal amounts of CA 19-9 in the blood can sometimes be a sign of colorectal or pancreatic cancer. In pancreatic cancer patients, higher levels of CA 19-9 tend to be associated with more advanced disease. Noncancerous conditions that may elevate CA 19-9 levels include gallstones, pancreatitis, cirrhosis of the liver, and cholecystitis. Not all pancreatic cancer patients have elevated levels of CA 19-9.

A condition causing weight loss and muscle wasting that occurs in advanced cancer, among other diseases.

Any of a group of diseases in which the cells are abnormal, grow out of control, and can spread.

The use of tests to find cancer before signs of cancer appear.

See Clinical stage, Staging cancer, and Stage.

Subpopulation of cancer cells believed to be responsible for starting and maintaining the cancer.

One of the approved chemotherapy drugs for pancreatic cancer, it gets metabolized into 5-FU; in either form the drug disrupts the cell replication cycle.

A protein that may sometimes be found in the blood of people who have certain types of cancers, and not usually found in healthy persons.

Cancer-causing agent.

Cancer that starts in cells that form the lining of structures of the body.

Abnormal or cancer cells that have not grown into the next layer of tissue.

Persons who provide help with daily activities, coordinate healthcare and other services, and provide emotional and other types of support for patients.

A flexible tube used to deliver fluids into, or withdraw fluids out of, the body.

Supplies oxygenated blood to the stomach, liver, spleen, and parts of the esophagus, duodenum, and pancreas. Also known as the celiac axis.

Complex network of nerves in the abdomen.

Injections of pain medications given to relieve abdominal pain, often used in cancer treatment or chronic pancreatitis.

A problem with thinking and memory that can happen during and especially after chemotherapy treatment for cancer. Also known as chemo fog.

Radiation therapy used in combination with chemotherapy.

Use of drugs to kill cancer cells.

Days of treatment followed by days of rest.

Pre-testing chemotherapies to determine which drugs are most effective against a cancer before undergoing a complete course of therapy.

A health profession concerned with the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mechanical disorders of the muscles and bones, and the effects of these disorders on the function of the nervous system and general health; it emphasizes manual treatments, including spinal manipulation.

Pain that occurs over a long period of time that may range from mild to severe.

Condition in which inflammation irreversibly damages the pancreas; or chronic damage with persistent pain or malabsorption.

Cells may shed from tumors and be found in small numbers in the bloodstream of certain cancer patients. These cells are known as circulating tumor cells (CTCs). CTCs are considered to be the source of cells that spread and form metastases in other organs.

One of the approved chemotherapy drugs for pancreatic cancer, it is a platinum-based drug that disrupts DNA and kills cancer cells.

The rating of the extent of cancer based on tests before treatment. (See also Stage and Staging cancer.)

The study of a drug, procedure, or medical device to determine its safety and effectiveness in people; there are many types of clinical trials used to find better ways to prevent, screen for, diagnose, and treat disease, and to improve quality of life. (See also Phases of clinical trials.)

A condition occurring at the same time but independent of another condition or illness.

Treatment methods added to conventional or traditional therapy.

Medical imaging test in which a scanner takes detailed, cross-sectional, X-ray images from many different angles that are combined by a computer.

A condition of the digestive system in which a person experiences hard stools that are difficult to eliminate; constipation may be painful and, in severe cases, may lead to a blockage of the bowel.

A dye or other compound injected into the body to make specific tissue more visible during diagnostic imaging.

How people or family members come to terms with an illness, make decisions, solve problems, and adapt to life’s changes.

Treatment used to fully rid the body of a disease.

Surgery that removes as much of the cancer as possible.

Normal-looking tissue beneath a tumor.

The presence or absence of cancer cells in the normal-looking tissue under a tumor that is removed by surgery.

Disease in which the body does not effectively control the amount of sugar in the blood, resulting in high levels; it occurs when the body does not produce enough or any insulin or does not use it properly.

Surgical procedure in which the tail and body of the pancreas are removed, usually along with the entire spleen; sometimes, part of the body of the pancreas can be preserved.

The molecule in the cell nucleus that carries the instructions for making living organisms.

A change in the way a drug acts or works in the body when it is taken with another drug or substance; the interaction can cause unwanted effects.

When a formerly effective medication stops being effective against a disease.

Imaging test for evaluating patients suspected of having pancreatic cancer; this type of computed tomography scan can detect about 98 percent of pancreatic cancers.

A channel leading from an exocrine gland or organ.

The first part of the small intestine that connects to the stomach.

The legal designation of a person responsible to make medical decisions for a patient when that patient cannot do so.

Cancer that has had little or no growth into nearby tissues.

A rating scale of one's ability to do daily activities.

Swelling around tissue due to the buildup of fluid.

Effectiveness; the power to produce a desired result.

A gland that secretes its hormone directly into the bloodstream that flows through it, rather than through an opening; endocrine tissue comprises 5 percent of the pancreas.

A physician who specializes in disorders of glands of the endocrine system.

Thin, tube-like instrument used to look at tissue inside the body; an endoscope has a light and a lens for viewing and may have a tool to remove tissue.

A type of biopsy that uses a long, thin tube with a camera on the end to go down the esophagus to remove tissue samples.

Minimally invasive procedure during which a thin, lighted tube is passed down the throat, through the stomach and small intestine, and into the bile duct and pancreatic duct to view them for obstruction and to take X-rays.

Procedure in which an endoscope is inserted down the throat and into the stomach and duodenum; a probe at the end of the endoscope is used to bounce high-energy sound waves off internal organs to make images.

Proteins that speed up chemical reactions in the body and that the body produces naturally; enzymes help the body with functions such as digesting food.

A protein on the edge of a cell that sends signals for the cell to grow.

One of the approved chemotherapy drugs for pancreatic cancer, it is a receptor kinase inhibitor and prevents cancer cells from multiplying.

The tube that connects the throat with the stomach; the esophagus lies between the trachea (windpipe) and the spine; it passes down the neck, through the diaphragm, and joins the upper end of the stomach.

An approved antineoplastic chemotherapy drug used to treat pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.

Removal by surgery.

Removal of an entire tumor to test for disease.

A gland that secretes its fluid through a duct; exocrine tissue comprises 95 percent of the pancreas.

Treatment for cancer in which a beam of high-dose radiation is focused on the tumor from outside of the body.

Genetic syndrome in which many different-sized, asymmetrical, raised moles are present; may be associated with melanoma or pancreatic cancer.

Breast cancer that occurs more often in a family than would normally occur by chance. There is often a genetic factor, such as a BRCA mutation, which increases the risk of several cancers, including pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer that occurs more often in a family than would normally occur by chance. There is often a genetic factor (known or unknown) involved.

Technique in which a thin needle is inserted into a tumor; cells are removed and examined under a microscope.

Parents, children, or siblings of an individual.

The first set of treatments given to treat a disease.

A chemotherapy drug used to treat pancreatic cancer. It is also used as part of the combination of drugs known as FOLFIRINOX.

One of the standard treatments for advanced pancreatic cancer. It is a four-drug combination: FOL (leucovorin calcium, or folinic acid), F (fluorouracil, or 5-FU), IRIN (irinotecan), OX (oxaliplatin). Each of these drugs enhances the action of the others.

A combination chemotherapy consisting of leucovorin (folinic acid), fluorouracil, and oxaliplatin.

Tests done after treatment to check for signs that the cancer has come back.

A CT scan that can show the movement of organs.

Pear-shaped organ located under the liver in which bile is concentrated and stored.

A physician who specializes in disorders of the digestive system.

The group of organs through which food passes after being eaten.

A chemotherapy drug frequently used to treat pancreatic cancer. Gemcitabine causes cell death by reducing the number of building blocks necessary to make DNA and shortening the DNA strands.

The trade name for gemcitabine.

The functional and physical unit of heredity passed from parent to child; most genes contain the information for making a specific protein. Genes are composed of DNA.

Having to do with genes and the information in genes.

Discussion with a counselor who has specific expertise in diseases caused by abnormal cells that are inherited from family members.

A change in the DNA sequence that makes a gene different from what is normally seen. Mutations cause many different variances in genes, and the majority are harmless. But some mutations make people more likely to develop certain diseases, including cancer.

The chance of getting a disease due to gene mutations that are inherited.

Medical testing of a person’s DNA, which can identify changes in chromosomes, genes, or proteins that indicate the existence of a genetic disorder or disease.

The full set of genes of an organism.

A change in the genes of the sperm or egg cells, which becomes part of the DNA of any offspring. Also called hereditary mutation.

An experimental immunotherapy that stimulates different aspects of the immune system to kill tumor cells.

The widest part of the pancreas. It is found in the right part of the abdomen, nestled in the curve of the duodenum.

A person chosen by the patient to make medical decisions for that patient.

A short blood vessel branching off the celiac artery. It brings oxygenated blood to the liver, pylorus of the stomach, pancreas, and duodenum.

Inflammation of the liver.

Cancer that is caused by a genetic abnormality that was passed from parent to child.

Syndrome in which there is a higher-than-normal chance of developing colon, pancreatic, uterine, stomach, or ovarian cancer.

Rare disease in which patients develop episodes of recurrent pancreatitis at an early age.

System of medicine based on the premise that “like cures like”; practitioners believe that a substance that produces a set of symptoms in a healthy person will, in small doses, cure those symptoms in a person with a disease.

Concept of care that emphasizes palliative care rather than cures, quality of life over quantity, and comfort measures for patients provided at home, at a hospice facility, or in a hospital.

Lowest part of the small intestine, located beyond the duodenum and jejunum, just before the large intestine (the colon).

Treatment with radiation that uses imaging tests to better target the tumor.

Methods used to produce pictures of internal body structures; for example, X-ray films, ultrasonography, computed tomography (CT) scans, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Cells that are part of the body's natural defense against infection and disease.

The action of the body’s natural defense against infection and disease in response to a foreign substance.

The condition in which the body's immune system, its natural defense against infection and disease, is weakened. This can occur because of illness or because of treatment for some diseases.

The body's natural defense against disease, made up of a variety of organs, cells, and proteins.

Proteins in the serum and cells of the immune system that help fight off infection. Also called antibodies.

A test of proteins within cells to detect specific cell traits involved in abnormal cell growth. It is used to diagnose types of cancer.

Treatment that boosts the body's natural defense against disease. Also called immune therapy.

Literally, something found in its original place. In cancer, in situ describes cancer cells that have not spread from their original location.

During evaluation for a disease, finding another disease unintentionally.

Surgery that removes a tissue sample from a tumor to test for cancer cells.

A reaction in one part of the body that produces redness, warmth, swelling, and pain as a result of infection, irritation, or injury. Inflammation can be external or internal.

Process in which a person is given important facts, such as the risks and benefits, about a medical procedure or treatment or a clinical trial before deciding whether to participate.

A document that must be read, understood, and signed by a person wanting to take part in a research study or clinical trial.

A method of giving drugs slowly through a needle into a vein.

DNA mutations carried in a person’s reproductive cells and potentially passed on to that person’s children. (See also Mutations.)

A hormone made by islet cells of the pancreas that controls the amount of sugar in the blood by moving it into the cells, where it can be used for energy.

Combined use of a proven treatment and a complementary therapy.

A type of internal radiation therapy that places radioactive objects in the tumor.

A radiologist who uses image guidance methods to gain access to vessels and organs to treat diseases.

A tumor of the pancreas that produces mucus that clogs and enlarges the pancreatic duct; IPMNs may progress to invasive pancreatic cancer if left untreated.

During the course of surgery.

Radiation therapy given during surgery.

Drugs given by a small tube surgically placed in the abdomen.

Injection into the space surrounding the spinal cord, given to help control pain after surgery.

Drugs given by a needle or tube inserted into a vein.

Injection directly into a vein.

One of the approved chemotherapy drugs for pancreatic cancer, it inhibits the replication and transcription of DNA, and so interferes with cell growth.

A tumor that arises from the islet cells of the pancreas, which may be benign or cancerous.

Collections of cells in the pancreas that produce insulin and glucagon, important regulators of sugar metabolism.

Condition in which the skin and the whites of the eyes become yellow, urine may become dark, and stool may become clay-colored; occurs when the liver is not working properly or a bile duct is blocked.

Portion of the small intestine that extends from the duodenum to the ileum.

A rating scale of one's ability to do daily activities.

A map of chromosomes according to their size and shape. Karyotyping is a process that examines a map (karyotype) of a cell's chromosomes.

A gene capable of causing cancer when altered; drugs that block its activity may stop cancer growth. Sometimes called K-ras oncogene.

One of the approved drugs for treating symptoms of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.

Small telescope-like instrument connected to a video monitor.

Procedure that uses a laparoscope, inserted through the abdominal wall, and is guided by ultrasonography.

Procedure during which a laparoscope is inserted through a small incision in the abdomen by which the internal organs can be viewed and tissue samples removed for examination.

A drug derived from folic acid that improves how well 5-FU, a type of chemotherapy, works.

Tests on blood samples that look for pieces of tumor or tumor DNA circulating in the blood.

The largest solid organ in the body, situated in the upper part of the abdomen on the right side, the liver filters toxins out of the blood and synthesizes a number of important proteins and biochemicals.

One of several documents called advance directives that designate what kind of medical care a patient wants, or does not want, in the event the patient cannot speak for themselves.

Drugs given to cause a loss of feeling in a small area of the body.

Cancer that is confined to the area around the affected organ but cannot be surgically removed because the tumor may be intertwined with major blood vessels and may have invaded surrounding organs. There is no evidence of spread to other areas of the body.

A negative physical response to treatment that continues for months or years after finishing treatment.

A test that uses small amounts of radiation to make pictures of the inside of the body.

Treatment with radioactive objects that are inserted into a tumor and left to decay.

One of the approved chemotherapy drugs for pancreatic cancer, this radioactive drug binds to a cell receptor and enters the cell, allowing radiation to cause damage to the tumor cells.

Small, bean-shaped structures in the neck, underarm, groin, chest, abdomen, pelvis, near the pancreas, and throughout the body; they store white blood cells.

Fluid that circulates through the lymph vessels and empties into blood vessels in the upper chest.

The body’s complex set of lymph nodes, lymph cells, and lymph vessels that fight infection and disease.

A type of white blood cell that helps fight infection and disease.

Imaging method that is safe and fast; a form of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) used to view the bile duct and pancreatic duct.

Imaging method that uses powerful magnets to view internal organs and structures; the energy from the magnets is absorbed by the body and released. A computer translates the energy patterns into detailed images of areas inside the body.

A test that measures chemicals in cells without removing tissue from the body.

A tube-shaped vessel that drains digestive fluids from the pancreas into the gut.

Treatment given to help sustain good treatment results.

Cancerous; malignant tumors can invade and destroy nearby tissues and spread to other parts of the body.

A physician who is trained to diagnose and treat cancer. A medical oncologist will also coordinate treatment with other specialists.

Serious form of skin cancer that begins in melanocytes (cells that make the pigment melanin).

Cancer that has spread beyond the area of the affected organ or part of the body and involves other organs, such as the liver or lungs.

Tiny tumors near the main tumor that can only be seen with a microscope.

Cancer cells that have spread from the first tumor and cannot be seen by the naked eye.

A very small number of cancer cells left in the body after treatment that can’t be seen with a microscope.

Surgery using small tools inserted through small incisions.

One of the approved chemotherapy drugs for pancreatic cancer, it works by sticking the cancer cell’s DNA (the cell’s genetic code) together so that it can't come apart again. The cell can't divide so the cancer cannot grow.

Tests done during treatment to check if treatment is working.

A type of immune system protein made in a lab that can attach to substances in the body such as cancer cells.

The use of two or more cancer drugs in one treatment, to get a stronger effect against the disease.

Helical CT scanner with multiple detector rows; advantages over other CT scanners include improved image resolution and rapid scanning of large volumes.

Team approach to the care of patients with cancer in which physicians in many different areas of specialization join to provide their expertise and experience.

A rare, inherited disorder that affects the endocrine glands and can cause tumors in the pancreas and other organs, which usually are not cancerous.

Errors in the DNA code that occur in the process of cell replication and division; certain mutations may lead to cancer or other diseases. (See also Inherited mutations.)

One of the approved chemotherapy drugs for pancreatic cancer, it inhibits cell division and promotes cell death. It is often given with gemcitabine.

Practitioners work with patients to provide nutritional and lifestyle counseling using dietary supplements, medicinal plants, and traditional Chinese medicine.

No evidence of disease.

A treatment given before surgery.

New growth; a tumor that may be benign or malignant.

Procedure in which a local anesthetic is injected around a nerve to produce numbness or pain reduction.

Cutting or destroying part of pain fibers to help control pain.

Having to do with the interactions between the nervous system and the endocrine system.

A nerve problem that causes pain, tingling, and numbness in the hands and feet.

A disorder caused by low levels of neutrophils, a type of white blood cell.

A small mass of tissue.

Cancer that has come back after treatment but has not spread to parts of the body far away from the first (primary) tumor.

Drugs that reduce inflammation and pain.

A physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

A branch of medicine that treats cancer.

Nurses with specialized training in managing the treatment and care of patients with cancer; they may administer chemotherapy drugs, help in management of side effects, and provide patient education.

Social workers professionally trained to counsel patients with cancer and help provide practical assistance, for example, by helping patients find support groups and locate services.

A doctor who is an expert in cancer surgery.

One of the approved chemotherapy drugs for pancreatic cancer, this form of irinotecan is enclosed in a lipid sphere to extend the time the drug remains in the body, thus increasing treatment effect.

In medicine, the first appearance of the signs or symptoms of an illness.

Strongest pain relievers available.

Tiny three-dimensional biological replica of a patient’s pancreatic tumor, cultured in the lab to allow researchers to test treatments to see what might work best for that patient.

Form of conventional medicine that emphasizes diseases arising in the musculoskeletal system.

One of the approved chemotherapy drugs for pancreatic cancer, it is a platinum compound that disrupts DNA and kills cancer cells.

One of the approved chemotherapy drugs for pancreatic cancer, it inhibits cell division and promotes cell death. It is often given with gemcitabine. (See also Nab-paclitaxel.)

Healthcare that specializes in the relief of suffering and improvement in quality of life.

For pancreatic cancer patients, any noncurative surgical procedure that may be used to help relieve symptoms such as jaundice, nausea, vomiting, and pain to improve quality of life.

An organ of the digestive system located deep in the abdomen that produces both pancreatic enzymes to aid in the digestion of food and hormones such as insulin.

A surgical procedure in which part or all of the pancreas is removed.

A malignant tumor of the pancreas. There are two main types: adenocarcinoma, which makes up the vast majority of cases, and neuroendocrine cancer, which is the remaining 5 percent of cases.

Saclike pouches of fluid within the pancreas. Most do not cause symptoms and are not cancerous, but some can become malignant.

Main duct that runs along the entire length of the pancreas and merges with the bile duct.

Proteins produced by the pancreas to aid in the digestion of food.

Lesions too small to see with the naked eye that can progress to invasive pancreatic cancer over time.

This type of pancreatic tumor develops from the abnormal growth of endocrine (hormone-producing) cells in the pancreas called islet cells. PNETs grow more slowly and may have a higher survival rate. Not all types of PNETs are cancerous.

Surgical procedure in patients with pancreatic cancer that removes part of the stomach, the duodenum, the head of the pancreas, part of the bile duct, the gallbladder, and lymph nodes in the area of the pancreas (See Whipple procedure.)

Inflammation of the pancreas.

Removal of the head of the pancreas and parts of other nearby organs. Also called a Whipple procedure.

A physician trained to examine cells under a microscope for the diagnosis of cancer and other diseases.

A document with information about cells and tissue removed from the body and examined in a lab.

Method of pain relief, commonly used after surgery in the immediate postoperative period, in which the patient controls the amount of pain medication by pressing a button on a computerized pump connected to a small tube in the body; patients cannot use more than the prescribed amount because the device is programmed for a maximum dosage.

Membrane that lines the abdominal cavity and covers most of the abdominal organs.

Genetic disorder in which polyps form in the intestine and dark spots appear on the mouth and fingers, and that increases the risk of developing many types of cancer, including pancreatic cancer.

Sequential steps of clinical trials designed to answer specific questions and build on information from the previous phase. Phase I: Determines the side effects of a new drug by gradually increasing the dosage and analyzing patients’ responses. Phase II: Determines if the new drug has the potential to be better than current treatments. Phase III: Determines if the treatment is better than, as good as, or not as good as the accepted standard treatment.

Uses X-ray beams to get to the tumor but also can damage healthy tissue around the tumor. Also known as external beam radiation therapy.

Trained professional who has completed an accredited program and is board-certified to perform certain duties of a physician, under the supervision of a licensed physician; some duties include history-taking, physical examination, and minor surgical procedures.

A substance that has no active ingredient and no therapeutic value.

A device that is surgically installed to create an opening into the body for drawing blood or giving treatments such as intravenous fluids, blood transfusions, or drugs such as chemotherapy.

Carries blood to the liver from the spleen, stomach, pancreas, and intestines.

Imaging test in which a small amount of radioactive glucose is injected into a vein, a camera detects the radioactivity, and a computer generates detailed images; because cancer cells absorb much more glucose than normal cells, images created by a PET scan can be used to find cancer cells in the pancreas and other parts of the body.

Legal document that appoints a person to make financial decisions for the patient when the patient cannot.

The expected pattern and outcome of a disease based on tests.

The growth or spread of cancer after being tested or treated.

A molecule made up of amino acids needed for the body to function properly; proteins are the basis of body structures such as the skin and hair, and of substances such as enzymes.

A detailed plan of a medical study, treatment, or procedure.

Treatment with radiation that uses a stream of positively charged particles that can be focused to reach only the targeted area.

A conventional, traditional, or standard treatment that has been tested and is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

A thick ring of muscle (a sphincter) between the stomach and duodenum. This sphincter helps control the release of the stomach contents into the small intestine.

Surgical procedure in patients with pancreatic cancer that removes most of the duodenum, the head of the pancreas, part of the bile duct, the gallbladder, and lymph nodes in the area of the pancreas; in this procedure, the stomach is spared.

The standards of one's well-being.

Unproven or untested treatments.

After surgery to remove a tumor, no tumor remains in the edges of the location where the tumor was removed, either visible to the eye or under a microscope.

After surgery to remove a tumor, all the visible tumor was removed but under the microscope there are still visible tumor cells on the edges of the location where the tumor was removed.

The use of energy waves to diagnose or treat disease.

The area of the body that receives radiation.

A physician trained in treating cancer with high-dose X-rays.

Also called radiotherapy; treatment of cancer with irradiation.

Giving off radiation.

Sugar injected into the body to make specific tissue more visible during a PET scan.

A physician trained to interpret many different imaging techniques.

Also called radiation therapy; treatment of cancer with irradiation.

A clinical trial in which patients are assigned randomly to the different treatments being tested in that trial.

Cancer that has returned after a disease-free period.

A plan or a regulated course, such as a diet, exercise, or disease treatment, designed to give a good result.

A type of drug used for short-term loss of feeling or awareness in a part of the body while awake.

The return of signs and symptoms of a disease after a remission.

The signs and symptoms of cancer have disappeared as a result of treatment.

Cancer that can be surgically removed. In pancreatic cancer, these tumors may lie within the pancreas or extend beyond it, but there is no involvement of the critical arteries or veins in the area. There is no evidence of any spread to areas outside of the tissue removed during a typical surgery for pancreatic cancer.

Surgery to remove a tumor.

Characteristics, habits, or environmental exposures shown to increase the odds of developing a disease.

A molecule that carries information for DNA and carries the same genetic code as DNA.

The next treatment used against a disease when the first treatment fails.

A drug that helps a person to relax or go to sleep.

Surgery to remove a thin tissue sample from the top of a tumor to test for cancer cells.

Any objective evidence of a disease, for example, evidence perceptible to the examining physician. (See also Symptoms.)

A drug that is used as the only treatment.

One of the approved drugs for treating symptoms of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.

A computer picture of areas inside the body, created by sound waves bounced off tissues and organs.

An organ located on the left side of the abdomen, near the stomach, that is part of the lymphatic system; it produces white blood cells, filters the blood, stores blood cells, and destroys old blood cells.

The blood vessel that brings oxygenated blood to the spleen. It branches from the celiac artery.

Drains blood from the spleen, part of the stomach, and part of the pancreas.

In cancer, the stage denotes the extent of the disease, especially whether it has spread from the original site to other parts of the body.

A standardized way to classify a tumor based on its size, whether it has spread, and where it has spread; staging measures the extent of the disease.

The treatment accepted by medical professionals as proper for specific diseases.

Excessive amounts of fat in the stool. Sometimes this can appear as an oil slick on top of the toilet water after the patient has had a bowel movement.

Device placed in a body structure (such as the pancreatic duct) to keep it open.

Multiple beams of high-dose radiation focused on a specified location in the body. The technique enables the radiation oncologist to kill cancer cells and limit the exposure of healthy tissue to radiation.

A kind of framework, made up of connective tissue, that provides support, structure, and anchoring for organs.

Under the skin.

One of the approved chemotherapy drugs for pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, it is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor with potential anticancer activity.

A major blood vessel for the intestines, colon, duodenum, and part of the pancreas. It branches off of the abdominal aorta.

The blood vessel that drains the small intestine. Its endpoint is behind the head of the pancreas.

A product that is added to the diet, such as a vitamin, mineral, or herb.

In patients with cancer, use of medications to prevent or counteract unwanted side effects of cancer or its treatment to improve quality of life.

A doctor who is an expert in cancer surgery.

Procedures done during surgery that are used to find out how far cancer has spread.

Follow-up testing that is done after treatment ends to look for new tumors.

The physical or mental problems a patient experiences that indicate the presence of a disease. (See also Signs.)

In cancer, a treatment in which a drug enters and travels throughout the body to reach tumor cells.

The thin tip of the organ in the left part of the abdomen, near the spleen.

One of the approved chemotherapy drugs for pancreatic cancer, it is a receptor kinase inhibitor and prevents cancer cells from multiplying.

Treatment designed to kill only cancer cells and not healthy cells.

The treatment of disease.

Treatment with radiation that uses beams matched to the shape of the tumor.

A system used to evaluate cancer; T stands for tumor, N for node, and M for metastasis.

Procedure, now seldom used, to remove the entire pancreas and spleen in patients with pancreatic cancer.

The degree to which a substance can harm humans or animals.

Through the skin.

A hand-held tool that bounces sound waves off tissue to make pictures of the inside of the body.

A written course of action for cancer treatment and beyond.

An abnormal mass of tissue. Tumors are a classic sign of inflammation, and can be benign or malignant (cancerous).

How far the tumor has grown into nearby tissue.

How normal or abnormal the cancer cells look under a microscope.

Substances, usually proteins, produced by a cancer or by the body’s response to the presence of cancer that can be detected in the blood.

A decrease in the size of the tumor.

A federal government agency that regulates food and drugs in the United States.

Also called a sonogram, ultrasonogram, or ultrasound scan; imaging method that bounces sound waves off internal organs to produce echoes. A computer creates patterns from these echoes that can determine whether tissue is normal or abnormal.

The part of the gland that bends backwards and underneath the body of the pancreas. Two very important blood vessels, the superior mesenteric artery and vein, cross in front of this part of the pancreas.

Term used to cover all types of complementary and alternative treatments that fall outside of proven therapies. (See also Alternative therapy.)

Cancer that has grown beyond the pancreas and has invaded vital structures around the pancreas. Unresectable cancer cannot be entirely removed by surgery.

A process in which a thin, long tool is guided into the esophagus and stomach.

A biological agent inserted into the body to prevent a disease.

A treatment used to help the body's disease-fighting ability (immune system) prevent a disease.

A functional group of tissue in the body that is necessary to live.

Surgical procedure in patients with pancreatic cancer that removes part of the stomach, the duodenum, the head of the pancreas, part of the bile duct, the gallbladder, and lymph nodes in the area of the pancreas.

Cancer that has spread from the first tumor to many distant locations in the body.

Legal document that describes how a person wants his or her money and property divided after death.

High-energy radiation with waves shorter than those of visible light, used in low doses to make images that help to diagnose diseases and in high doses to treat cancer.

One of the approved chemotherapy drugs for pancreatic cancer, it gets metabolized into 5-FU; in either form the drug disrupts the cell replication cycle.

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There are no terms in this letter at the moment.