WESTON, Fla. – We’ve all heard the stories about high profile people with pancreatic cancer, among them Apple founder Steve Jobs and Jeopardy host Alex Trebec.
But there are a number of disorders that can affect this vital organ and a newly created center in Weston, Fla. is focused on the multitude of pancreatic problems.
Decades ago, doctors discovered several cysts on Barbara Haggerty’s pancreas.
“And they said don’t do anything because they grow so slow it probably won’t become a problem,” she said.
Over time, it did become a problem and that’s when Haggerty turned to specialists with the Pancreas Center at Cleveland Clinic Weston.
“One of the major functions of the pancreas is to regulate glucose it also produces hormones so it has two major functions: exocrine and endocrine. Exocrine is the enzyme production which helps in the digestion of our food and the endocrine is the hormone production, most importantly insulin, which helps in the regulation in our blood glucose, said Dr. Mayank Roy, Surgical Director of the center.
He said when the pancreas fails to make enough digestive enzymes and insulin, it can lead to pancreatitis.
“‘Itis’ in general, in medical terminology, means inflammation so if there is any inflammation, that is associated with pancreatitis. That may be presented in a very acute scenario calls acute pancreatitis and if it goes on for long term that’s called chronic pancreatitis,” Roy said.
And then there are cases like Haggerty’s, where people develop cysts and polyps in the pancreas.
While the condition may have been ‘the hand she was dealt’, she feels she got ‘the luck of the draw’ with the specialists at the pancreas center.
“The doctors have been fantastic at Cleveland Clinic. The nurses and everything else, they’re wonderful,” she said.
And she added, at the end of the day:
“It’s working out, I get to see another Christmas.”
Beyond genetics, behavioral factors, specifically smoking and alcohol, increase the risk for pancreatic problems, including cancer.