Steve Jobs did not give detailed explanations about stepping down as head of Aplle. But one possible explanation - is the return of pancreatic cancer Diabetes and pancreas - the things you need to know . Insuloma - a rare form of cancer - curable. But she could return.

If Jobs was the most common form of pancreatic cancer - adenocarcinoma, it is likely that he would die soon after diagnosis in 2003. But as he recovered, then he has a rare form - neuroendocrine tumor or carcinoma Carcinoma - how to prevent disaster?   islet tissue (insuloma).

In 2004, nine months after the diagnosis, Jobs underwent surgery to remove the tumor. In 2009, he survived a liver transplant, which makes only a small number of patients with a rare form of pancreatic cancer Pancreatic cancer - diagnosis of the problem .

What are neuroendocrine tumors (insuloma)?

Usually the prognosis for patients who have cancer of the pancreas, disappointing. But sometimes (in the USA these cases from 200 to 1,000 per year), it is cancer islet tissue.

Islet cells (islet cells) - is pancreatic cells that produce hormones. This diagnosis is also very serious. But this type of cancer is more often curable.

Course of the disease depends on the percentage of cells transformed into cancer cells. Sometimes, when the number of tumor cells increases, they begin to secrete various hormones. This may cause strange effects, such as inability to digest fat or a sudden increase in the hands and feet. These tumors are usually benign.

Sometimes insuloma cells do not produce hormones, and therefore do not give strange effects. But 90% of these tumors nedobrokochestvennye, which means it can be fatal if you do not start treatment.

Is there a cure Insula?

The most obvious way insuloma treatment - surgery, experts say. If this is not possible, you have the option of chemotherapy Chemotherapy - it always falls the hair?   Other methods to control swelling. Some cases insuloma incurable, but patients may live with it for years. In many cases, with proper treatment the patient will feel good and live a normal life.

About Jobs reported that he was held Whipple procedure. This preferred form of surgery in case insuloma located in the upper part of the pancreas. This surgery involves the removal of the pancreas, part of the bile duct, gall bladder and part of the small intestine. Sometimes it is removed and part of the stomach. Then the remaining organs are connected to the small intestine.

Why did Steve Jobs liver transplant?

Although it is known that Jobs did a liver transplant, the exact causes are unknown. As doctors say, is rare for patients with insuloma. The fact is that if the cancer has not healed completely, such a procedure does not. To the transplanted liver is not was torn away, the rest of life, patients taking immunosuppressive agents. And in the case of non-functioning of the immune system remaining cancer cells will grow uncontrollably.

If the cancer comes back, the prognosis for such patients is poor. This usually means that the cancer is incurable.

Cancer of the brain begins to develop when certain brain cells change their usual characteristics. In particular, they begin to multiply more rapidly, longer life, and form tumors. Such cancer is said primary brain cancer, because it starts to develop in the brain.

The most common types of primary brain cancer is glioma, meningioma, pituitary adenoma Pituitary adenoma - a benign tumor dangerous , Vestibular schwannoma, and medulloblastoma. For gliomas are astrocytomas, oligodendrogliomas, and ependymomas. Most tumors were named types of brain cells from which they evolved.

Metastatic brain cancer develops from cancerous tumor cells, which have appeared in other parts of the body. Approximately 25% of cancerous tumors in the body metastasize Metastasis - danger everywhere   the brain.

Symptoms

It is assumed that the development of cancer of the brain may contribute to the genetic factors, toxic substances present in the environment, radiation exposure and smoking. HIV infection can also increase the likelihood of brain cancer in humans.

The most common symptoms of brain cancer are weakness, change in gait, seizures and headaches. May be present, and symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, blurred visible objects, changes in the level of consciousness, the deterioration of mental abilities, memory impairment, and speech; personality changes. None of these symptoms by itself or in combination with other may not be an accurate indicator of brain cancer.

Treatment

The most common diagnosis for brain cancer using computed tomography. Now, thanks to its high sensitivity and ability to give a detailed view of the increasing popularity receives magnetic resonance imaging, but the opportunity to use it as long as there is not everywhere.

The treatment plan is developed depending on the size and type of cancer, the age and general health of the patient.

The main methods of cancer treatment Cancer Treatment - difficult, but necessary   brain are surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The task of surgery is to remove cancerous tumors, but it is not always possible.

Radiotherapy or chemotherapy may be used in preparation for surgery or after surgery or instead.

In addition to the basic methods of treatment can be used immunotherapy (destruction of cancer cells by immune cells) and radiofrequency ablation. To reduce inflammation in the brain, sometimes assigned to receive steroids.

Side effects of treatment

Side effects of surgery on the brain may be healthy tissue damage, inflammation of the tissues of the brain, convulsions. Also, patients may experience muscle fatigue, mental changes, attenuation of any controlled brain functions. These side effects most apparent shortly after the operation and with passage of time becoming less pronounced. In some cases the side effects persist over time.

Chemotherapy can cause side effects such as nausea, vomiting, hair loss, tiredness. Because chemotherapy suppresses the immune system, the person becomes more susceptible to various infections. Moreover, chemotherapy may damage the kidneys, the reproductive organs and other systems. Side effects of radiotherapy Radiotherapy in cancer treatment: irradiation aid   in general, similar to the effects of chemotherapy, although they may be somewhat weaker.

Forecast

The probability of survival of a patient with brain cancer depends mainly on the stage and type of cancer. According to various estimates, the percentage of survivors varies from less than 10% to over 32%, irrespective of the method of treatment used. Complete recovery of a patient with brain cancer is possible, but in practice this rarely occurs. Therefore, patients need to understand that in most cases the treatment is given that for some time to extend the life and preserve the quality of life at an acceptable level.