Dictionary

palliative care: Treatment that removes or lessens pain and symptoms but that does not affect or cure the underlying condition.

palpation: A type of examination that involves feeling an area of the body to help diagnose diseases. Palpation can give information on the size, shape and hardness of areas of interest.

pancreas: A gland that secretes hormones and digestive enzymes, making it a part of both the endocrine and exocrine systems.

pancreatectomy: The removal of all or part of the pancreas.

pancreatic cancer: A fast-growing and difficult to detect form of cancer that affects the pancreas and often has a poor prognosis.

pancreatitis: The inflammation of the pancreas, often caused by the backing up of pancreatic enzymes as a result of a blockage of the ducts that drain the pancreas.