Thanks to advances in screening and medicine that help detect cancer early, cancer is more treatable and survival rates for some types of cancer have improved.of American Cancer Society “According to annual statistics reported by the American Cancer Society (ACS), the risk of dying from cancer in the United States has declined over the past 28 years. , down 32% from its peak in 1991 to 2019, the most recent year for which data were available. , which appears to be associated with an increased proportion of patients with lung cancer who have longer post-diagnosis survival. Disease stage.”
Nonetheless, beating cancer is no easy task, and there are still many types, such as pancreatic cancer, that are difficult to diagnose at an early stage that reduce survival.of ACS “It is difficult to detect pancreatic cancer early. Because the pancreas is so deep in the body, early tumors cannot be seen or felt by health care providers during routine physical exams. There are no symptoms until the is very large, or it has already spread to other organs.”
It is estimated that “62,210 people (32,970 men and 29,240 women) will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer this year,” according to the WHO. ACS “Approximately 49,830 people (25,970 men and 23,860 women) die from pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer accounts for about 3% of all cancers and about 7% of all cancer deaths in the United States.” It is slightly more common in men than in women.” CNN About 95% of pancreatic cancer patients die from pancreatic cancer, according to experts. In the early stages, when the tumor is most treatable, it is usually asymptomatic and very deadly. It tends to be discovered at an advanced stage. Abdominal pain and jaundice may occur. There are currently no general screening tools. ”
Knowing your risk factors and early symptoms can save your life. Health spoke with an expert who shares what you need to know about pancreatic cancer. Read on.To protect your health and that of others, don’t miss these Sure Signs You Already Have COVID.
Dr. Kimmel Cohenhepatopancreaticobiliary surgeon and surgical oncologist Palm Beach Health Network Physician Group (PBHNPG), Deputy Chief of Surgery Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center and on staff Good Samaria Medical Center “Pancreatic cancer has the highest mortality rate of all major cancers.It is currently the third leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States, after lung and colon. It is difficult to detect because it may not be present until the end of the disease.”
Devashish BooseMD PhD FACS, Chief of Surgery Oncology, Center for Hepatobiliary Diseases, Mercy Medical Center, Baltimore, said Most pancreatic cancers form the lining of tubes called ducts that carry digestive fluids to the intestines. It originates from cells.
“There is no test for early detection of pancreatic cancer and no regular screening process to detect it,” Dr. Cohen said. Pancreatic cancer needs more research and more funding to find early detection tests.Currently, the survival rate for pancreatic cancer is a grim 9%. is the only chance of cure, and only 20% of pancreatic cancer cases are candidates for surgery. Without further research and development, pancreatic cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death. ”
“Because of its location, pancreatic cancer usually doesn’t cause symptoms until it’s advanced,” says Dr. Bose. There is no good blood test to screen for, like PSA. Pancreatic cancer patients live an average of 2 to 3 years under the best of circumstances.After diagnosis, only 1 in 4 survives 5 years after surgery. ”
“Symptoms of pancreatic cancer include weight loss, elevated blood sugar, epigastric pain, jaundice, and nausea,” Dr. Cohen explains.
depression
according to paper Written by Doctors T. Geukens, MD and J. Verheezen, MD. Other abdominal neoplasms, and psychiatric symptoms often precede physical symptoms. Despite further research into this co-occurrence, the true mechanism of interaction remains unclear. Future diagnosis of these patients and of great importance for therapeutic workup. Various theories have been proposed. It is depression induced by antibodies that directly disrupt serotonin or via serotonin. Cancer-causing depression is also possible, but to date its significance in the pancreas is unknown. Taken together, all of this information makes depressive symptoms important in the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. We hope that this insight will pave the way for the development of targeted therapies that will be implemented in clinical settings in the future. ”
enlarged gallbladder or liver
of American Cancer Society “If cancer blocks the bile ducts, bile can accumulate in the gallbladder, causing it to enlarge. Your doctor may feel this[as a large lump under the right side of your ribcage]during a physical examination. Pancreatic cancer can also enlarge the liver, especially if the cancer has spread there. We may be able to do it. It will be seen in the imaging test.”
nausea and vomiting
“When cancer presses on the far end of the stomach, it can block part of the stomach, making it difficult for food to pass. This tends to cause nausea, vomiting, and worse after eating,” says ACS. It can be painful,” he said.
stomach or back pain
According to ACS, “Pain in the abdomen (belly) or back is common with pancreatic cancer. Cancer that starts in the body or tail of the pancreas can grow quite large and begin to press on other nearby organs, causing pain. Cancer can also spread to the nerves surrounding the pancreas, often causing back pain. Occurs for reasons other than
blood clot
ACS explains: In the affected leg. Sometimes part of the blood clot breaks off and travels to the lungs, making it difficult to breathe or causing chest pain. A blood clot usually does not mean that you have cancer. Most blood clots are caused by other causes. ”
of mayo clinic “The signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer often don’t develop until the disease is advanced. They include:
- Abdominal pain radiating to the back
- loss of appetite or unintended weight loss
- yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice)
- light colored stools
- dark urine
- itchy skin
- A new diagnosis of diabetes or an existing diabetes that is becoming more difficult to control
- blood clot
- Malaise
“It’s very common to have pancreatic cancer and not realize you have it,” Dr. Cohen said. Symptoms don’t appear until they’re bigger or they’ve already spread to other organs.”
Nancy Mitchell, Registered Nurse Living support center “The signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer tend to be similar to other diseases. Pain in the middle back, for example, can be a sign of pain and inflammation in the pancreas. However, most people Overlooking it as a possible muscle strain or back injury, patients tend to wait until three or more symptoms appear before seeing a doctor, by which time the cancer has already I was sick.”
“Risk factors for pancreatic cancer include obesity, smoking, chronic pancreatitis, and long-standing diabetes. The most important risk factor is a family history of pancreatic cancer,” Dr. Cohen said.
“Limit or avoid alcohol intake,” Mitchell says. “Alcohol thickens the pancreatic juices and can cause obstruction and inflammation in the pancreatic ducts. This condition we call ‘pancreatitis.'” . Since inflammation is a cancer-promoting factor, the goal is to limit the triggers of inflammation in the body. ”
of ACS “Smoking is one of the most important risk factors for pancreatic cancer. Twenty-five percent are believed to be due to pancreatic cancer.Smoking cigars and using smokeless tobacco products also increase the risk, but quitting smoking starts to reduce the risk of pancreatic cancer.
Being very overweight (obesity) is a risk factor for pancreatic cancer.Obese people (body mass index [BMI] 30 and above) are about 20% more likely to develop pancreatic cancer. Gaining weight as an adult can also increase your risk. Carrying extra weight around your waistline can be a risk factor even for people who aren’t overweight.
Pancreatic cancer is more common in diabetics. The reason for this is unknown. Most of the risk is seen in people with type 2 diabetes. This type of diabetes is increasing in children and adolescents as obesity also rises in these age groups.Her type 2 diabetes in adults is often associated with overweight or obesity as well. It is not clear whether people with type 1 (juvenile) diabetes are at increased risk.”
