ACS :: What Is Cancer of the Pancreas?

"The pancreas is a gland found behind the stomach. It is shaped a little bit like a fish. It is about 6 inches long and less than 2 inches wide. It extends across the abdomen.
The pancreas is really 2 separate glands inside the same organ. The exocrine gland makes pancreatic juice that has enzymes to break down fats and proteins in foods so the body can use them. Most of the cells in the pancreas are part of the exocrine system. A smaller number of cells in the pancreas are endocrine cells. These cells are arranged in clusters called islets (or islets of Langerhans). They make hormones (such as insulin) that help balance the amount of sugar in the blood. "