There are few things that people fear more than getting cancer. Of the dozens of different types of cancer, pancreatic cancer is one of the worst. Pancreatic cancer is when you develop cancer in your pancreas, an organ behind your stomach. The main responsibilities of your pancreas are to help with digestion and regulate your blood sugar levels by producing insulin.
Because of where your pancreas is located, it’s difficult to spot pancreatic cancer until the later stages of the disease. There aren’t many visible signs and symptoms associated with pancreatic cancer in its early stages. As a result, many cases of pancreatic cancer are very serious and often untreatable.
As we said before, pancreatic cancer is tough to detect until its later stages because of how few early signs and symptoms there are. In most cases, there won’t be visible signs until the cancer spreads to other body parts. Here are some of those signs and symptoms.
Compared to other types of cancer, pancreatic cancer is one of the most deadly. Over 95% of people who develop pancreatic cancer will die from it because of how difficult it is to detect by symptoms alone. Therefore, seeing a doctor for a proper diagnosis the moment you suspect pancreatic cancer is important.
As with most cancers, medical experts aren’t 100% sure what causes pancreatic cancer. However, a few risk factors put certain people more at risk of developing it than others.
Studies have shown that pancreatic cancer is more common in people who smoke, are obese, and use tobacco products.
Pancreatic cancer is also more common in people with pancreatitis, diabetes, and certain genetic mutations.
If a parent or close relative had pancreatitis, there’s a higher possibility that you, too, will develop it.
Pancreatic cancer is more common in people over the age of 65.
While these risk factors may slightly increase the odds of developing pancreatic cancer, it can affect anyone of any age.
Because it’s difficult to diagnose pancreatic cancer based on symptoms alone, your doctor will utilize several tests for a proper diagnosis.
Scans of the inside of your body will help your doctor see if you have pancreatic cancer or not. These tests include CT scans, ultrasounds, MRIs, and PET scans.
Pancreatic cancer will cause an increase in certain proteins in your blood. A blood test will help confirm whether or not you have these proteins.
Scopes are more invasive and in-depth than imaging tests and take in-depth pictures of your pancreas.
If they still can’t confirm a diagnosis, your doctor may perform a biopsy to extract a sample of your pancreas for testing.
Using one or more of these tests, along with your symptoms and medical history, your doctor can confirm whether or not you have pancreatic cancer.
Unfortunately, only 5% of people who have pancreatic cancer will survive. That’s because most cases of pancreatic cancer aren’t discovered until they’re in Stage IV, and it’s often too late to treat. When it’s caught early enough, however, several treatment options are available to give you a chance to survive.
Surgery to remove tumours, cancerous areas, or part or all of your pancreas.
Radiation and chemotherapy kill the cancer in your body.
Clinical trials using experimental treatments and medications.
Palliative care to relieve the painful symptoms of pancreatic cancer.
Early diagnosis is crucial if you want these treatments to successfully cure and manage pancreatic cancer.