What Is Pancreatic Cancer? Understanding the Silent Killer

Pancreatic cancer is an abnormal or uncontrolled cell growth in the pancreas. The pancreas lies below the abdomen and makes critical enzymes and hormones.

Pancreatic cancer doesn’t cause symptoms until it spreads to the other organs, so it is not detected early. Understanding pancreatic cancer can help one detect any warning signs and seek early medical attention, leading to a better prognosis. This blog discusses pancreatic cancer, what it is, how it is caused, its symptoms, and more.

What is Pancreatic Cancer? 

Pancreatic cancer is the cancer of the pancreatic cells. It causes the cells to divide uncontrollably, leading to a mass or tumour. The pancreas is a critical organ that produces two important hormones: insulin and glucagon. These hormones control the breakdown of sugar in the body.

The most common kind of pancreatic cancer is pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. This cancer starts in the cells of the ducts that transfer digestive enzymes into the body. Pancreatic cancer can spread to other body organs and parts, causing severe complications.

What Causes Pancreatic Cancer?

DNA corruption in the cells of the pancreas causes pancreatic cancer. These changes cause some cells to multiply instead of die at a set time, like healthy cells. Due to this uncontrolled multiplication, a mass or a tumour forms, which can invade and destroy healthy tissue. Some of these diseased cells can also break off and attack other areas of the body, causing the spread of cancer.

What are the Symptoms of Pancreatic Cancer?

Pancreatic tumor symptoms include:

1. Belly pain, including pain in the side or back
2. Loss of appetite
3. Weight loss
4. Yellowing of skin and eye whites
5. Light or floating stools
6. Itching
7. Diabetes that gets harder to control
8. Tiredness or weakness
9. Itching

The pancreatic disease symptoms are usually not detected at the beginning, making the diagnosis difficult in the early stages.

What are the Pancreatic Cancer Risk Factors? 

Risk factors of pancreatic disease include:

1. Smoking: Smoking cigarettes increases the risk of pancreatic cancer.
2. Excessive Alcohol Consumption: Consuming excessive alcohol increases pancreatic cancer risk. It can also lead to a condition called pancreatitis, which further elevates cancer risk.
3. Pancreatitis: Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas. Pancreatitis causes include genetic and excessive alcohol intake.
4. Weight: Being overweight or obese, especially in early adulthood, increases pancreatic cancer risk.
5. Diet: Consuming a diet heavy in processed meat, free foods, or sugar can increase pancreatic cancer risk.
6. Age: People between the ages of 65 to 74 are at a higher risk of pancreatic cancer.
7. Diabetes: Suffering from diabetes (type 1 or type 2) increases the risk of pancreatic cancer.
8. Family History: People who have a close relative suffering from pancreatic cancer are at a higher risk.
9. Toxic Chemical Exposure: Exposure to pesticides and harmful chemicals, such as those used in metalwork, can increase the risk of pancreatic cancer.
10. Sex: Men are at a higher risk of pancreatic cancer than women.

What are the Pancreatic Cancer Stages?

The different stages of patriotic cancer are:

1. Stage 0: This is the precancer stage, where the cells in the pancreas can become cancerous.
2. Stage 1: The tumour is limited to the pancreas in this stage.
3. Stage 2: In this stage, cancer has spread to nearby abdominal tissues.’Stage 3: At this stage, the cancer has spread to major blood vessels and lymph nodes.
4. Stage 4: This is the metastatic stage where the cancer has spread to other organs like the liver.

How is Pancreatic Cancer Diagnosed?

Tests for pancreatic cancer diagnosis include:

1. Imaging Tests: Imaging tests like CT scans, PET scans, MRIs, and ultrasounds are used to look at detailed images of the pancreas to diagnose pancreatic cancer.
2. Endoscopic Ultrasound: In this test, a slender tube accompanying a camera is inserted into the stomach to use sound waves to take pictures of the pancreas.
3. Biopsy: In a biopsy, a small tissue sample is removed from the pancreas during endoscopy to check for the presence of cancer cells. These specialized lab tests look for DNA changes in the cells.
4. Blood Tests: Blood tests for pancreatitis look for a specific protein released by the pancreatic cancer cells. Doctors also use these blood tests to determine the response to treatment.
5. Genetic Testing: Genetic testing determines the risk of getting pancreatic cancer by looking for inherited gene changes. Doctors can also use this test to guide pancreatic cancer treatment in some cases.

Pancreatic cancer starts in the pancreas, a critical organ that makes insulin. Symptoms of pancreatic cancer are difficult to detect in the earlier stages when the treatment is easier. For this reason, pancreatic cancer is also termed as a silent killer disease. Upon noticing warning signs of pancreatic cancer given here, it is a good idea to consult a doctor and book a test at Dr Lal PathLabs.

FAQs 

1. What is the function of the pancreas?

The pancreas makes digestive enzymes and hormones necessary for regulating sugar breakdown in the body.

2. When is World Pancreatic Cancer Day 2024?

World Pancreatic Cancer Day will be celebrated on 21 Nov, 2024.