Pancreatic cancer
The pancreas, located in the abdomen, has a double function, as an endocrine gland and as an integral part of the digestive system.
As an endocrine gland, the pancreas is in charge of regulating blood sugar levels and secreting a couple of important hormones, namely glucagon, insulin, somatostatin, and pancreatic polypeptide.
As part of the digestive system, it has an exocrine gland-like function, secreting pancreatic juice, which aids in breaking down proteins, fats, and carbohydrates.
Since the pancreas is such an important part of the body, any inflammation of the organ should start to ring alarm bells.
The most common ways in which you can get your pancreas inflamed (also known as developing pancreatitis) are chronic alcohol usage and gallstones.
If you have or are at risk of developing chronic pancreatitis, know that it can be a segue towards developing pancreatic cancer, which is one that has some of the lowest survival rates.
This is because it ends up being detected only after it has started to spread away from the pancreas.
