Pancreatic cancer has been called a "silent" disease because early pancreatic cancer usually does not cause symptoms. The two major functions of the pancreas are to produce enzymes to help digest food and produce hormones to regulate the body's use of sugar.

What is the pancreas?

The pancreas is a 6-inch-long spongy, tube-shaped organ located in the back of the abdomen, behind the stomach. It has two major jobs in the body:

It makes digestive juices (enzymes) that help the intestines break down food.

It produces hormones -- including insulin -- that regulate the body's use of sugars and starches.