How Pancreatic Cancer Spreads
Once cancer moves away from the pancreas, it often goes into the nearby bile ducts and lymph nodes in your abdomen. In some cases, it spreads to other nearby areas, such as the liver. Pancreatic cancer may also spread to distant parts of the body, such as the lungs.
When pancreatic cancer has spread to another part of the body, it’s not considered a new cancer. For instance, if pancreatic cancer spreads to the liver, it’s not considered liver cancer. It’s called metastatic pancreatic cancer.
There are also several kinds of cancer--such as liver cancer--that can spread to your pancreas. When this happens, the cancer is not called pancreatic cancer. This is because cancer is usually named for the site of the original tumor. For example, if liver cancer spreads to your pancreas, it will be treated as metastatic liver cancer, not as pancreatic cancer.
Online Medical Reviewer:
Alteri, Rick MD
Online Medical Reviewer:
Coleman, JoAnn RN, MS, ACNP, AOCN®
Online Medical Reviewer:
Lee, James J. MD, PhD
Last Annual Review Date:
2/25/2008