The pancreas is an organ in the abdomen that helps the body digest and use the energy that comes from food. Pancreatic cancer occurs when cells in the pancreas grow out of control and form a growth or tumor. Tumors may be cancerous (malignant) or not cancerous (benign).
SEER Cancer Stat Facts: Pancreas Cancer. National Cancer Institute. Bethesda, MD, http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/pancreas.html