Pancreatic Cancer
The pancreas is an elongated organ that produces enzymes and hormones that helps with food digestion and regulate blood sugar levels. It can be divided into four sections: the head, neck, body, and tail. It is located behind the stomach near the first part of the small intestine (the duodenum).
Although the exact cause of pancreatic cancer is unknown, its occurrence can be attributed to various reasons, such as smoking, obesity, diabetes, chronic pancreatitis, genetic syndromes and exposure to chemicals such as pesticides.
The three common types of pancreatic cancers are pancreatic ductal cancer, pancreatic neuroendocrine tumour and malignant pancreatic cystic tumour.
Symptoms:
The early stage of pancreatic cancer is usually asymptomatic. Early pancreatic cancers are usually identified incidentally from the scans performed for not related conditions. The presentation of pancreatic cancer also depends on the location of the tumour. The tumour located at the head of the pancreas will compress the bile duct and present with earlier symptoms; cancer located at the pancreatic body and tail will have a poorer prognosis due to late presentation.
Some of the common symptoms to look out for can include:
- Upper abdominal pain that spreads to the back
- Jaundice
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Dark-coloured urine
- Weight loss
- New or worsening diabetes
- Nausea and/or vomiting
Treatment:
Before treatment is discussed, the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer and the stage/extent of the cancer has to be made. The diagnostic tests include endoscopic ultrasounds, blood tests, biopsies, CT/MRI and PET scans.
Once an accurate diagnosis is obtained, the appropriate treatment option will be discussed depending on the stage of the tumour. Some common treatments can include:
- Surgical removal (open, laparoscopic or robotic approach, depending on suitability)
- Systemic treatment with chemotherapy
- Systemic treatment with neoadjuvant chemotherapy to reduce the tumour size before surgical removal, and
- radiation therapy
Preventive measures:
While pancreatic cancer isn’t completely preventable, there are various habits you can incorporate into your lifestyle that can reduce your chances of developing pancreatic cancer. Some include:
- Quit/avoid smoking
- Maintain a healthy weight and lifestyle
- Drink alcohol in moderation or don’t at all
- Avoid diabetes; If you already have it, control your blood sugar levels
- If your job-scope entails exposure to harmful chemicals, ensure your safety through proper equipment
