- Breakthrough in fight against world’s deadliest cancer – new drug shrunk up to 70% of pancreatic tumors in lab Daily Mail
- Concurrent inhibition of oncogenic and wild-type RAS-GTP for cancer therapy Nature.com
- Investigational therapeutic shows promise in preclinical pancreatic cancer model Medical Xpress
- New treatment for pancreatic cancer patients now available in the Upstate WSPA 7News
- Revolution Medicines Announces Publications on the Discovery and Preclinical Profile of Representative of a New Class of RAS(ON) Multi-Selective Inhibitors Designed to Block Full Spectrum of Oncogenic RAS(ON) Proteins GlobeNewswire
Tag Archives: pancreatic
Miss World Australia finalist Tirah Ciampa from Tasmania opens up about her pancreatic cancer battle and the s – Daily Mail
- Miss World Australia finalist Tirah Ciampa from Tasmania opens up about her pancreatic cancer battle and the s Daily Mail
- ‘I had a weird feeling which led to a devastating diagnosis at 27 – listen to your body’ The Mirror
- ‘Fit and healthy’ model’s ‘weird feeling’ leads to devastating diagnosis at just 27… The Sun
- Signs of pancreatic cancer: ‘Fit and healthy’ Aussie’s ‘weird feeling’ leads to devastating diagnosis at 27 7NEWS
- Miss World Australia national finalist Tirah Ciampa reveals her ‘hell’ during pancreatic cancer battle New Zealand Herald
- View Full Coverage on Google News
Doctors Say These are the Signs of a Secret Cancer, Including Pancreatic Cancer
Cancer is the second most common cause of death after heart disease, but many people have fallen behind on their cancer screenings over the past three years. “Cancer screening aims to find cancer before symptoms appear while the tumor is still small and confined, which is when the chance of cure is the highest,” says Jyoti D. Patel, MD, FASCO. “Different groups, including the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and the United States Preventive Services Task Force, or USPSTF, offer recommendations for screening for different types of cancer, including breast cancer, cervical cancer, colorectal cancer, and lung cancer, depending on a person’s age and risk factors. In addition to these cancers that can be detected by screening, some cancers are found during routine medical appointments when a health care provider notices an abnormal lump or skin lesion during a physical exam or when routine blood tests find an abnormality.”
One important element of cancer prevention is being frank and honest with health professionals, and being comfortable asking questions. “If you don’t ask questions you won’t know if you’re doing the things that are right for you to help lower your cancer risk,” says Therese Bevers, MD, Medical Director of the Cancer Prevention Center at MD Anderson. “Something might be missed. Ask your doctor for a cancer risk assessment. Your personal history, family history and lifestyle choices all affect your cancer risk. Be specific. Ask your doctor what your risk is for certain cancers. Your risk for one type of cancer may be greater than another type of cancer. Getting specific will allow you to make sure you’re getting the information you need. While there are standard screening guidelines, they may vary, depending on family history, personal health history, inherited risk factors and behaviors. Talk to your doctor to make sure your screening exams are up to date.”
According to Dr. Patel, screenings are climbing back up but are nowhere near where they need to be. “Although screening rates for many cancers have started to rebound after the first wave of COVID-19, they are still lower than levels in 2019,” she says. “The National Cancer Institute predicts that there will be at least 10,000 excess deaths from breast and colorectal cancers over the next 10 years in the United States as a direct result of people not getting regular mammograms and colonoscopies. These deaths don’t include the effects that interruptions in cancer treatment or decreases in preventive measures, such as getting the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, have had, so there may be even more excess deaths as a result of this pandemic.” Here are five symptoms of a hidden cancer to be aware of. Read on—and to ensure your health and the health of others, don’t miss these Sure Signs You’ve Already Had COVID.
1
Abdominal Pain
Abdominal pain that radiates to the back could be a sign of pancreatic cancer. Lying down can make the pain worse, while sitting up can relieve it. Pancreatic cancer is the third most common cause of cancer death in the US, and is often found too late for effective treatment. “Although pancreatic cancer is rare, it is a devastating disease with low survival rates,” says US Preventive Services Task Force member Chyke Doubeni, MD, MPH. “Unfortunately, we do not currently have an effective test to screen for pancreatic cancer.”
Even in cases where the cancer is detected early, the average survival is only 36 months. “New effective screening tests are needed that can find pancreatic cancer earlier,” says Task Force member Chien-Wen Tseng, MD, MPH, MSEE. “We also need better treatments that can lead to improved survival or a cure with fewer harms.”
2
Fatigue
Fatigue could be a symptom of ovarian cancer, another cancer that can stay quiet until it’s in the advanced stages. “While ovarian cancer ranks fifth in cancer deaths among women, according to the American Cancer Society a woman’s overall lifetime risk of developing it is still relatively low,” says Danielle Marie Mitch, PA-C. “Slightly more than 1% of women in the U.S. with no significant family history or additional risk factors will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer most often occurs in women after menopause, with the possibility increasing with age. Half of all ovarian cancers are in women aged 63 or older and the disease affects white women more frequently than Black women.
“Besides having an annual pelvic exam and knowing the risk factors and symptoms of ovarian cancer, trust your gut. You know your body. If something feels wrong, seek care. Diagnosing ovarian cancer can be challenging. However, by staying in tune with your body, sharing your knowledge with friends and family, and talking to your health-care provider if anything seems out of the ordinary, you can make an impact in the fight against ovarian cancer.”
3
Vaginal Bleeding
Unusual bleeding after sex or menopause, or in between periods, could be a sign of cervical cancer. Another sign is vaginal mucus that is watery and has blood in it. “Unfortunately, the early stages of cervical cancer generally show no signs or symptoms,” says Kristina Butler, MD, MS. “And this is why we emphasize getting Pap smears every three to five years and yearly pelvic exams. Once the cancer has progressed, it can show these symptoms: Unusual vaginal bleeding, for example, after intercourse or between periods or after menopause. Watery, bloody vaginal discharge that may be heavy or have an odor. And pelvic pain or other pain can also occur during intercourse.”
So when should screenings for cervical cancer begin? Most guidelines suggest starting regular screening for cervical cancer at age 21,” says Dr. Butler. “And during these screenings, a provider collects cells from the cervix to be tested in the lab. HPV DNA tests examine the cell specifically for HPV that can lead to pre-cancer. A Pap test, or commonly called a Pap smear, tests the cells for abnormalities. The process of these tests are not painful but can be mildly uncomfortable.”
4
Blood In Stool
Blood in stool could be a sign of colorectal cancer, experts say. “I often hear from patients that they are not experiencing any colorectal cancer symptoms, so they decide to delay the screening for the disease,” says Diana Franco Corso, MD. Unfortunately, many people with colon cancer experience no symptoms at all in the early stages of the disease. By the time pain, bleeding and changes in bowel habits occur, the cancer may not be curable. Be sure to talk with your health care provider about your risk factors and recommended screening schedule.”
“Most often, colorectal cancer starts with precancerous polyps in the lining of the colon,” says Stephan Thomé, MD. “These precancerous cells can form in the shape of a mushroom, lie flat or be embedded in the colon walls. Finding and removing the polyps helps prevent colorectal cancer. Colon cancer screening is of paramount importance for preventing and catching colorectal cancer early. Although a colonoscopy isn’t perceived as the most glamorous screening, the benefits far outweigh the downfalls. Experts recommend that patients should begin colon screening at 45 or 10 years prior to when an immediate family member was diagnosed with colon cancer. For example, if your mother was diagnosed with colon cancer at 48, have your first screening at 38.”
5
Coughing
A cough that doesn’t go away could be a sign of lung cancer. “Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer deaths in the US, among both men and women,” says Tobias Peikert, MD, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine. “Typical symptoms, which usually appear only when the disease is advanced, include a persistent cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, coughing up blood and hoarseness. In general, screening is recommended for people 55 to 80 who have smoked for 30 pack years or more. Pack years are calculated by multiplying the number of packs of cigarettes smoked a day and the number of years smoked.”
Even people who don’t smoke should get screened, depending on risk factors. “Screening may be appropriate for other individuals at increased risk for lung cancer, too,” says Dr. Peikert. “If you think you may fall into one of those categories based on your health history, family history or exposure to cancer-causing substances, talk to your health care provider about screening. A national study conducted in 2011 found that annual lung cancer screening for high-risk individuals significantly reduced lung cancer-related deaths in that population.”
I’m a Doctor and Wish Everyone Knew This About Pancreatic Cancer Signs — Eat This Not That
Thanks to screenings that can help detect cancer early and advances in medicine, cancer has become more treatable and the survival rate has increased for several types of cancer. The American Cancer Society states, “The risk of dying from cancer in the United States has decreased over the past 28 years according to annual statistics reported by the American Cancer Society (ACS). The cancer death rate for men and women combined fell 32% from its peak in 1991 to 2019, the most recent year for which data were available. Some of this drop appears to be related to an increase in the percentage of people with lung cancer who are living longer after diagnosis, partly because more people are being diagnosed at an early stage of the disease.”
That said, it’s no easy journey to beat cancer and there’s still many types that are difficult to diagnose in the early stages, which decreases the survival rate like pancreatic cancer. The ACS explains, “Pancreatic cancer is hard to find early. The pancreas is deep inside the body, so early tumors can’t be seen or felt by health care providers during routine physical exams. People usually have no symptoms until the cancer has become very large or has already spread to other organs.”
This year an estimated “62,210 people (32,970 men and 29,240 women) will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer”, according to the ACS and “About 49,830 people (25,970 men and 23,860 women) will die of pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer accounts for about 3% of all cancers in the US and about 7% of all cancer deaths. It is slightly more common in men than in women.” CNN reports, “About 95% of people with pancreatic cancer die from it, experts say. It’s so lethal because during the early stages, when the tumor would be most treatable, there are usually no symptoms. It tends to be discovered at advanced stages when abdominal pain or jaundice may result. Presently, there are no general screening tools.”
Knowing the risk factors and early symptoms can save your life and Eat This, Not That! Health spoke with experts who share what to know about pancreatic cancer. Read on—and to ensure your health and the health of others, don’t miss these Sure Signs You’ve Already Had COVID.
Dr. Kimmerle Cohen, a hepatopancreaticobiliary surgeon and surgical oncologist with Palm Beach Health Network Physician Group (PBHNPG), Vice Chief of Surgery at Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center and on-staff at Good Samaritan Medical Center tells us, “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 its symptoms may not be present until late in the disease.”
Debashish Bose, MD PhD FACS, Director of Surgical Oncology, Director of the Center for Hepatobiliary Disease, Mercy Medical Center, Baltimore says, “People should know that, unfortunately, pancreas cancer carries a very poor prognosis and is on the rise. The pancreas is a gland that makes digestive enzymes and hormones that control blood sugar and the activities of the digestive tract. Most pancreas cancer arises from cells that make up the lining of the tubes that conduct digestive juices into the intestine, called ducts.”
Dr. Cohen says, “Pancreatic cancer has no test for early detection and no routine screening process to detect it. Only patients with strong genetic factors have screening protocols for early detection. Pancreatic cancer will require more research and more funding to find early detection testing. As of now, the survival rate of pancreatic cancer is a grim 9 percent. Surgery is the only chance of cure and only 20 percent of cases with pancreatic cancer are surgical candidates. If no further research or development comes along, pancreatic cancer will become the second leading cause of cancer death.”
Dr. Bose adds, “Because of its location, pancreas cancer does not usually cause symptoms until it is advanced. There is no screening tool for pancreatic cancer, like a colonoscopy or a mammogram. There are no good blood tests to screen for pancreatic cancer, like a PSA. For some people it is possible to perform surgery to remove pancreatic cancer, which is the only way to achieve “long” term survival, but under the best of circumstances people with pancreatic cancer live an average of 2-3 years after diagnosis, and only about 1 in 4 people who are able to undergo surgery survive to 5 years.”
Dr. Cohen explains, “Pancreatic cancer symptoms include weight loss, increased blood sugar, epigastric pain, jaundice, and nausea.”
Depression
According to an article written by doctors T. Geukens, MD and J. Verheezen, MD, “Ever since the early 1930’s, an association between pancreatic cancer and depression has been noticed. The prevalence of depression is higher in patients with pancreatic cancer than it is in patients with other abdominal neoplasms, and psychiatric symptoms often precede somatic symptoms. Despite further research on this co-occurrence, the true mechanism of interaction is still not clear. Knowing what it is that forms the biological link between depression and the pancreatic tumour, could be of great importance to the future diagnostic and therapeutic workup of these patients. Different theories are proposed. Plausible are the depression being induced through cytokines more specifically IL-6, alterations in the tryptophan-kynurenine, glutamate and serotonin pathways, and antibodies disturbing brain functioning directly or through serotonin. Depression causing cancer is also possible, but to date of unknown importance in pancreatic cancer. All this information brought together makes depressive symptoms of diagnostic importance in pancreatic cancer. The insights pave the way for the development of targeted therapies, hopefully to be implemented in clinical practice in the future.”
Gallbladder or Liver Enlargement
The American Cancer Society says, “If the cancer blocks the bile duct, bile can build up in the gallbladder, making it larger. Sometimes a doctor can feel this (as a large lump under the right side of the ribcage) during a physical exam. It can also be seen on imaging tests. Pancreatic cancer can also sometimes enlarge the liver, especially if the cancer has spread there. The doctor might be able to feel the edge of the liver below the right rib cage on an exam, or the large liver might be seen on imaging tests.”
Nausea and Vomiting
The ACS states, “If the cancer presses on the far end of the stomach it can partly block it, making it hard for food to get through. This can cause nausea, vomiting, and pain that tend to be worse after eating.”
Belly or Back Pain
According to the ACS, “Pain in the abdomen (belly) or back is common in pancreatic cancer. Cancers that start in the body or tail of the pancreas can grow fairly large and start to press on other nearby organs, causing pain. The cancer may also spread to the nerves surrounding the pancreas, which often causes back pain. Pain in the abdomen or back is fairly common and is most often caused by something other than pancreatic cancer.”
Blood Clots
The ACS explains, “Sometimes, the first clue that someone has pancreatic cancer is a blood clot in a large vein, often in the leg. This is called a deep vein thrombosis or DVT. Symptoms can include pain, swelling, redness, and warmth in the affected leg. Sometimes a piece of the clot can break off and travel to the lungs, which might make it hard to breathe or cause chest pain. A blood clot in the lungs is called a pulmonary embolism or PE. Still, having a blood clot does not usually mean that you have cancer. Most blood clots are caused by other things.”
The Mayo Clinic says, “Signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer often don’t occur until the disease is advanced. They may include:
- Abdominal pain that radiates to your back
- Loss of appetite or unintended weight loss
- Yellowing of your skin and the whites of your eyes (jaundice)
- Light-colored stools
- Dark-colored urine
- Itchy skin
- New diagnosis of diabetes or existing diabetes that’s becoming more difficult to control
- Blood clots
- Fatigue
Dr. Cohen states, “It is very common to have pancreatic cancer and not know that you have it. Pancreatic cancer is hard to find early. The pancreas is deep inside the body, so early tumors can’t be seen or felt by healthcare providers during routine physical exams. People usually have no symptoms until the cancer has become very large or has already spread to other organs.”
Nancy Mitchell, a Registered Nurse with Assisted Living Center shares, “The signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer tend to mimic other ailments. For example, middle back pain may be a sign of pancreatic pain and inflammation. But most people pass it off as a muscle strain or a possible back injury. Patients tend to wait until they have a triad or more of symptoms to visit a doctor. By then, the cancer had already developed.”
Dr. Cohen says, “Pancreatic cancer risk factors include obesity, smoking, chronic pancreatitis, and long-standing diabetes. The most important risk factor is a family history of pancreatic cancer. “
Mitchell adds, “Limit or abstain from alcohol consumption. Alcohol causes pancreatic juices to become thick, which can create blockages in the ducts, leading to inflammation. This condition is what we call “pancreatitis.” Inflammation is a cancer promoter, so the goal is to limit inflammatory triggers in the body.”
The ACS says, “Smoking is one of the most important risk factors for pancreatic cancer. The risk of getting pancreatic cancer is about twice as high among people who smoke compared to those who have never smoked. About 25% of pancreatic cancers are thought to be caused by cigarette smoking. Cigar smoking and the use of smokeless tobacco products also increase the risk. However, the risk of pancreatic cancer starts to drop once a person stops smoking.
Being very overweight (obese) is a risk factor for pancreatic cancer. Obese people (body mass index [BMI] of 30 or more) are about 20% more likely to develop pancreatic cancer. Gaining weight as an adult can also increase risk. Carrying extra weight around the waistline may be a risk factor even in people who are not very overweight.
Pancreatic cancer is more common in people with diabetes. The reason for this is not known. Most of the risk is found in people with type 2 diabetes. This type of diabetes is increasing in children and adolescents as obesity in these age groups also rises. Type 2 diabetes in adults is also often related to being overweight or obese. It’s not clear if people with type 1 (juvenile) diabetes have a higher risk.”
Scientists develop world’s first test for pancreatic cancer – using tiny WORMS that sniff out tumors
Scientists have developed the world’s first early screening test for pancreatic cancer — which uses worms to sniff out tumors.
According to its makers, the test — rolled out this month in Japan — is 100 per cent accurate at spotting the cancer and can detect it at its earliest stages.
Tokyo-based biotech company Hirotsu Bio Science hopes to bring the test to the US by next year.
Users send a urine sample to a lab in the mail, which is added to a petri dish full of dozens of worms called nematodes, which are about one-millimeter long.
They are known for their strong sense of smell, which in the wild they use to seek out their prey.
That makes the 1-milimetre long animals a potent diagnostic tool, says company founder and chief executive Takaaki Hirotsu, who has been researching them for 28 years.
A urine sample is added to a petri dish with dozens of tiny worms, which have been genetically modified to swim away from traces of pancreatic cancer
The pancreatic cancer survival rate rapidly decreases as time passes from initial diagnosis. The general five-year survival rate in America is 11 per cent, according to Cancer.net
Hirotsu genetically modified the worms so that they will swim away from pancreatic cancer samples.
Studies of the tests showed it was more effective at detecting bladder cancer tumors than other widely used methods of detection, such as blood tests.
Pancreatic cancer is one of the most deadly types because it is hard to catch early due to a lack of symptoms, and by the time it is caught it’s usually too late.
Roughly 50,000 Americans die of pancreatic cancer every year, and just one in 10 people survive five years after a diagnosis.
Because of the way it is sold straight to patients, the test wouldn’t need FDA approval to be made available in the US.
Hirotsu said: ‘What’s very important with early detection of cancer and these kinds of diseases is being able to sense very trace amounts.
‘And when it comes to that, I think that machines don’t stand a chance against the capabilities that living organisms have.’
Hirotsu Bio launched its first N-NOSE test in January 2020, which claimed to tell if users were at a high risk of cancer.
Around a quarter of a million people have taken the test, with five to six per cent receiving high-risk readings.
The pancreas test kits are sold directly to consumers, rather than a healthcare professional referring patients for the test, and cost $505.
Hirotsu focused on pancreatic cancer first because it is hard to diagnose and progresses very quickly.
There is also no single diagnostic test which can determine if a person has pancreatic cancer.
The company plans to roll out similar test for liver, cervical and breast cancer in the next few years.
But some doctors are skeptical of the results and consumer-based approach.
Masahiro Kami, the head of the Medical Governance Research Institute think tank in Tokyo, warned that false positives could greatly outnumber actual cases of pancreatic cancer, making the results ‘not usable’.
Hirotsu argued that the accuracy of the test is competitive with other diagnostic tools and is intended as an early checking method so patients can access further testing and treatment without delay.
Hirotsu Bio Science chief technical officer Eric Di Luccio examines nematodes in a petri dish at the company’s lab in Fujisawa, Japan
TV ads using caricatures of the worms and the pancreas are being used in Japan to flog the tests, and will help the company build its brand, Mr Hirotsu said.
If the company can scale up, the test’s hefty price tag may reduce over time, he added.
Asked if he particularly likes worms, Mr Hirotsu said: ‘I feel like I have to give the answer that I love nematodes and I find them cute, but that’s not the case at all.
‘Really, I just think of them as research materials and nothing more.’
Scientists develop world’s first test for pancreatic cancer – using tiny WORMS that sniff out tumors
Scientists have developed the world’s first early screening test for pancreatic cancer — which uses worms to sniff out tumors.
According to its makers, the test — rolled out this month in Japan — is 100 per cent accurate at spotting the cancer and can detect it at its earliest stages.
Tokyo-based biotech company Hirotsu Bio Science hopes to bring the test to the US by next year.
Users send a urine sample to a lab in the mail, which is added to a petri dish full of dozens of worms called nematodes, which are about one-millimeter long.
They are known for their strong sense of smell, which in the wild they use to seek out their prey.
A urine sample is added to a petri dish with dozens of tiny worms, which have been genetically modified to swim away from traces of pancreatic cancer
The pancreatic cancer survival rate rapidly decreases as time passes from initial diagnosis. The general five-year survival rate in America is 11 per cent, according to Cancer.net
That makes the one-milimetre long animals a potent diagnostic tool, says company founder and chief executive Takaaki Hirotsu, who has been researching them for 28 years.
Hirotsu genetically modified the worms so that they will swim away from pancreatic cancer samples.
Studies of the tests showed it was more effective at detecting bladder cancer tumors than other widely used methods of detection, such as blood tests.
Pancreatic cancer is one of the most deadly types because it is hard to catch early due to a lack of symptoms, and by the time it is caught it’s usually too late.
Roughly 50,000 Americans die of pancreatic cancer every year, and just one in 10 people survive five years after a diagnosis.
Because of the way it is sold straight to patients, the test wouldn’t need FDA approval to be made available in the US.
Hirotsu said: ‘What’s very important with early detection of cancer and these kinds of diseases is being able to sense very trace amounts.
‘And when it comes to that, I think that machines don’t stand a chance against the capabilities that living organisms have.’
Hirotsu Bio launched its first N-NOSE test in January 2020, which claimed to tell if users were at a high risk of cancer.
Around a quarter of a million people have taken the test, with five to six per cent receiving high-risk readings.
The pancreas test kits are sold directly to consumers, rather than a healthcare professional referring patients for the test, and cost $505.
Hirotsu focused on pancreatic cancer first because it is hard to diagnose and progresses very quickly.
There is also no single diagnostic test which can determine if a person has pancreatic cancer.
The company plans to roll out similar test for liver, cervical and breast cancer in the next few years.
But some doctors are skeptical of the results and consumer-based approach.
Masahiro Kami, the head of the Medical Governance Research Institute think tank in Tokyo, warned that false positives could greatly outnumber actual cases of pancreatic cancer, making the results ‘not usable’.
Hirotsu argued that the accuracy of the test is competitive with other diagnostic tools and is intended as an early checking method so patients can access further testing and treatment without delay.
Hirotsu Bio Science chief technical officer Eric Di Luccio examines nematodes in a petri dish at the company’s lab in Fujisawa, Japan
TV ads using caricatures of the worms and the pancreas are being used in Japan to flog the tests, and will help the company build its brand, Mr Hirotsu said.
If the company can scale up, the test’s hefty price tag may reduce over time, he added.
Asked if he particularly likes worms, Mr Hirotsu said: ‘I feel like I have to give the answer that I love nematodes and I find them cute, but that’s not the case at all.
‘Really, I just think of them as research materials and nothing more.’
What causes pancreatic cancer? 14 symptoms you’re most likely to ignore
If you’ve got indigestion and stomach ache, and maybe you’re off your food and feeling a bit sick, you might think you’ve just got a tummy bug. And while that’s by far the most likely cause, always be aware that they’re the symptoms of something far worse too – the UK’s fifth biggest cancer killer, pancreatic cancer.
Symptoms of the disease, which is diagnosed in around 10,500 people in the UK every year, can often be mistaken for other, far more benign, conditions, and that’s why many people don’t seek medical help until the cancer is in its later stages and far more difficult to treat.
As a result, pancreatic cancer is the deadliest common cancer – more than half of people with the disease die within three months of diagnosis, says Pancreatic Cancer UK (PCUK, pancreaticcancer.org.uk).
PCUK specialist nurse, Jeni Jones, says: “The vast majority of cases are diagnosed when the cancer is already at a late stage, because the symptoms often overlap with other conditions like indigestion and irritable bowel syndrome. If you have a symptom that’s persistent, you should speak to a GP – it could mean you’re diagnosed early.”
Here are some of the symptoms that could be easy to dismiss as something less serious…
1. Indigestion
Indigestion and/or heartburn can be a common symptom of pancreatic cancer – but one that most people wouldn’t necessarily think was linked to a serious disease.
“A lot of the time people might just take over-the-counter remedies for persistent indigestion – it’s not something that will automatically see you running to the GP,” says Jones. “But there are times when it might line up with other symptoms like pain in your tummy or back, and with several niggling things happening, which could suggest pancreatic cancer.”
2. Tummy or back pain
This can be anything from a dull ache to pain that radiates from your tummy around to your back, explains Jones. “It may be around your bra line if you’re a woman,” she says. “It’s not lower back pain, and it’s often between the shoulderblades. It may be worse after you eat something, and it doesn’t tend to go away easily.”
She says combined tummy and back pain is quite a common symptom, but some people may just have one or the other.
3. Unexplained weight loss
Weight loss connected to pancreatic cancer might initially be seen when people aren’t really trying to lose weight and are eating relatively normally. “They might just notice their clothes are getting loose,” Jones says.
4. Appetite loss
Losing weight is of course sometimes be related to appetite loss, which is another easily-ignored pancreatic cancer symptom, at least initially. “It can range from people thinking they’re not really that hungry, to having no appetite at all and not being able to face food or feeling full after very little food,” says Jones, who explains that such appetite changes may be because the tumour is pressing on the stomach, or just diminishing the capacity to eat.
5. Jaundice
Jaundice is a less easy-to-ignore pancreatic cancer symptom, but it only tends to occur in people whose tumour is towards the head of the pancreas, explains Jones. “Not everyone with pancreatic cancer will get jaundice, although it is very prevalent,” she says. “It’s a red flag symptom – you might notice it when the whites of your eyes turn a bit yellow, before your skin starts to get that yellow tinge.”
6. Itchiness
Your skin might become incredibly itchy before you develop jaundice, because bile salts build up under the skin first. “It’s insanely itchy,” stresses Jones. “I’m not talking about a little itch, it would have you scratching to a crazy degree.”
7. Changes to bowel habits
“This is a very, very important one,” stresses Jones, “because there are many, many causes of diarrhoea, but this is something we call steatorrhea – when there’s fat present in the stool, which makes it go a yellowy colour, which also happens in jaundice. This greasy, yellowy poo that doesn’t flush away is a sure sign that there’s something wrong higher up in the digestive system.
“If the patient doesn’t describe the specifics of their diarrhoea, it can waste time for diagnosis, and time is of the essence.”
8. Recently diagnosed diabetes
Jones warns that a very small amount of people with recently diagnosed diabetes may have pancreatic cancer, because the cancer can stop the pancreas producing enough insulin, which can lead to diabetes. She explains: “If you have some of the pancreatic cancer symptoms and you’re suddenly diagnosed with diabetes, then that ought to be a red flag symptom for your GP to think about whether you need a scan to check your pancreas.”
9. Nausea
Feeling or being sick can be another pancreatic cancer symptom, although she stresses: “Sometimes people can vomit, but that’s not as common as feeling sick.”
10. Blood clots
Jones says blood clots are an uncommon pancreatic cancer symptom, and one that would perhaps be seen in people who, for example, are younger and non-smokers and so wouldn’t typically be at risk of clots.
“They might present with breathlessness or a swollen leg, and go for a scan and find out they’ve got pancreatic cancer,” she says. “It’s exceptional, but clots are a symptom and could be leading to the fact that there’s an underlying problem.”
11. Fatigue
Tiredness can, of course, be caused by any number of things, but if you have other symptoms too, it could be linked to pancreatic cancer, warns Jones . “If you rest and can’t recharge your batteries, coupled with some of the other symptoms, like ongoing pain or steatorrhea, which drain a person physically, it could be another pancreatic cancer symptom.”
12. Fever, shivering, and feeling unwell
Such symptoms are uncommon pancreatic cancer symptoms, but aren’t unheard of and may be either linked to the cancer itself, or possibly an infection linked to jaundice, which Jones says will need immediate medical attention.
13. Difficulty swallowing food
“The cancer can make a person feel full up, so although they think the problem is to do with their swallowing, it’s often the fact that they’re just not able to fit the food in,” says Jones, who explains that pancreatic cancer doesn’t actually cause problems with the oseophagus, it may just make swallowing feel abnormal.
14. Depression and anxiety
Depression and anxiety without any obvious cause is a common symptom of pancreatic cancer, says Jones. “In of itself, it’s probably not something that would make you say you’ve probably got pancreatic cancer,” she says, “but low mood can go hand-in-hand with pain and fatigue. Again, it’s taking these things as a whole, rather than in isolation.”
7 Symptoms of Pancreatic Cancer You’re Most Likely to Ignore, Including Weight Loss — Eat This Not That
Pancreatic cancer is responsible for 3% of all cancers and and 7% of all cancer deaths in the US. Known as the “silent killer,” pancreatic cancer is notoriously difficult to spot. “Research shows that a tumor growing in the pancreas can take 12 to 15 years before it becomes invasive,” says Christopher Wolfgang, MD, PhD, chief of the Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery and surgeon with Perlmutter Cancer Center. “If we can find and remove premalignant tumors within that window, we can potentially cure pancreatic cancer with surgery alone. The problem is that many early tumors are invisible. We can’t see them on scans. We are developing ways to detect them in the blood, a diagnostic technique called liquid biopsy. The tumors that can be detected on scans are called cystic neoplasms. Most of these lesions are benign, but 3 to 5 percent will undergo malignant transformation. The challenge with these types of tumors is determining which ones to watch and which ones to surgically remove. So that’s another big area of research.”
According to research published in JAMA, there are six specific gene mutations linked to pancreatic cancer. “This study provides the most comprehensive data to date supporting genetic testing for all pancreatic cancer patients,” says Fergus Couch, PhD. “This is the first study to provide estimates on the magnitude of cancer risk associated with each gene. It indicates that family history alone cannot predict who has these mutations.” The mutations are also found in people with no family history of the disease.
“There are currently no simple tests for pancreatic cancer,” says surgical oncologist Jin He, MD, PhD. “Most cases are found when symptoms develop or an imaging study, such as a CT or MRI scan, is done for another reason. There is active research at Johns Hopkins that is aimed at developing a test for pancreatic cancer in the blood, urine and stool… Unfortunately, most pancreatic cancer cannot be prevented, but you can reduce your risk by maintaining a healthy weight, stopping smoking and limiting your alcohol intake. Other risk factors include chronic pancreatitis and family history. Occasionally, precancerous lesions can be identified and, if removed early, can prevent pancreatic cancer from developing.” Here are seven symptoms of pancreatic cancer that are easy to overlook, according to experts. Read on—and to ensure your health and the health of others, don’t miss these Sure Signs You’ve Already Had COVID.
Unexplained digestive issues could be a sign of pancreatic cancer, experts say. “Poor appetite, indigestion and nausea are common in people with pancreatic cancer,” says Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN). “Some or all of these symptoms may occur when a tumor in the pancreas presses against the stomach or first portion of the small intestine. If this happens, food may remain in the stomach and cause several digestive difficulties, including nausea and vomiting. Digestive symptoms can also occur due to blockage of the pancreatic duct through which the pancreatic enzymes flow or due to changes in pancreatic enzyme production.
“If pancreatic juices don’t flow, digestion is not complete, which can cause bloating, lack of appetite and weight loss, when you’re not trying to shed pounds,” says Heinz-Josef Lenz, MD, an oncologist at USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center and a professor of medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. “You may have darker pee and paler stool than usual.” Excess bilirubin can make urine look a dark, brownish color, while bilirubin blockage can make stool appear lighter. “Pancreatic cancer can prevent the proper enzymes from getting to the intestines and breaking down fat, making stool appear greasier,” Dr. Lenz says.
Weight loss is a common symptom of pancreatic cancer. “People diagnosed with pancreatic cancer often find it difficult to maintain their weight and follow a healthy diet,” says Christi M. Walsh ONC, MSN-CRNP. “The pancreas is an organ located in the abdomen, behind the stomach near the small intestine, gallbladder and duodenum. It has an essential role to help convert the food we eat into fuel for the body’s cells. Food may not be digested properly if the pancreas is not functioning due to cancer.”
According to Walsh, fatigue is a common symptom to experience with weight loss. “The pancreas has two main functions: an exocrine function that helps in digestion of food and an endocrine function that regulates blood sugar. Even if patients continue to eat and digest food normally, pancreatic cancer releases compounds into the bloodstream that break down muscle and fat, causing patients to lose weight and muscle mass, as well as feel fatigued.”
Jaundice is another overlooked symptom of pancreatic cancer that presents itself when the disease is advanced. “So one of the reasons is the pancreas is a long organ that lies along your back, from one side to the other, and depending on where in the pancreas it physically starts, in the geography of the pancreas, will determine what your symptoms are,” says Matthew Walsh, MD. “So you can have a relatively small tumor in the very end of the pancreas, near the opening to the duodenum, that can cause jaundice, which is one of the symptoms and that can occur relatively early because if you pinch off the bile duct with a small tumor. But the farther away you get from there, geographically, you can get a bigger tumor that can spread and not be found.
“The most common single symptom is jaundice, and most patients will present to their regular doctor with jaundice or to the emergency room, and they’ll be evaluated and chances are they’ll have a scan and may get a scope to help relieve the jaundice. And that’ll give them either a clear diagnosis, because you can do a type of brush biopsy of a bile duct in someone who has jaundice, and jaundice is just blockage of the bile duct in this case that causes yellowing of the skin and eyes and often very irritating itching. And they’ll first notice it actually in their urine. Your urine will turn dark. So if you have those symptoms, obviously see your doctor promptly. And often it’s not the patient that notices it, it’s a family member. So it’s always good to know that.”
Many people are not aware that diabetes can be a symptom of pancreatic cancer. “Long-standing diabetes is a (modest) risk factor for pancreatic cancer,” says Suresh Chari, MD. “It causes a modest increase in risk of 1.5- to two-fold. Individuals who’ve had diabetes for more than five years can be considered at a slightly higher than average risk of developing pancreatic cancer, as noted above. But those with a new onset of diabetes after age 50 have a nearly 1% chance of being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer within three years following their diabetes diagnosis. In this case, the pancreatic tumor caused the diabetes.”
But what is the link between diabetes and pancreatic cancer? “It’s thought that pancreatic cancer can cause cells in the body to become resistant to insulin, a key hormone produced by the pancreas that helps regulate blood sugar levels,” says Dr. Chari. “In other insulin-resistant conditions (like obesity), the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas make more insulin to overcome the insulin resistance. But pancreatic cancer appears to stop the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas from responding adequately to this insulin resistance. This results in the development of diabetes. It’s important to note that even though pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs) arise from the hormone-producing cells of the pancreas, diabetes is neither a symptom nor risk factor for PNETs… Both diabetes and pancreatic cancer can present with vague symptoms that can be dismissed by doctors and patients, and both can be much more manageable if diagnosed early and accurately. It’s important for researchers and clinicians to develop strategies to make sure all patients are correctly diagnosed as early as possible.”
Upper abdominal pain is one of the most common signs of pancreatic cancer. “Almost 7 out of 10 people (70%) with pancreatic cancer go to their doctors because they have pain,” explains Cancer Research UK. “Pain is more common in cancers of the body and tail of the pancreas. People describe it as a dull pain that feels as if it is boring into you. It can begin in the stomach area and spread around to the back. The pain is worse when you lie down and is better if you sit forward. It can be worse after meals.”
“There are very few early warning signs of pancreatic cancer, which makes it difficult to diagnose in its initial stages. If a tumor is in the body or tail of the pancreas, symptoms may appear much later,” says Dr. Lenz. “This means the tumor may grow large, before you feel pain or discomfort in your abdomen or back. If any of the symptoms described show up and persist for more than one week, you need to see a doctor.”
Smoking is strongly linked to pancreatic cancer. “So the only known risk factor is tobacco smoking,” says Dr. Walsh. “And obviously, for a lot of reasons, people shouldn’t be doing that. There’s probably some genetic component, there’s some familiar forms, but we don’t have that figured out very well and there isn’t a genetic test you can do to look for it. As you mentioned, famous people, if you look at Jimmy Carter and his family, a lot of people have had pancreatic cancer except him, interestingly. So there are increased risk with things like chronic pancreatitis, but the only real risk factor is smoking.”
“People who smoke are two times more likely to develop pancreatic cancer compared to those who don’t,” says Joseph Herman, MD, MSc, a member of the Scientific and Medical Advisory Board at PanCAN. “About 20 to 30% of exocrine pancreatic cancer cases – the most common kind of pancreatic cancer – are thought to be attributable to smoking.” The good news is that quitting can make a difference immediately. “Especially for people who have other risk factors – like a family history of pancreatic cancer or longstanding diabetes – it’s crucial to quit smoking as soon as possible,” Dr. Herman says. “Other modifiable risk factors, like maintaining a healthy diet and keeping active, can further decrease an individual’s lifetime risk of developing pancreatic cancer.”
With the majority of Americans being overweight, it’s easy to normalize obesity—but being obese increases the risk of pancreatic cancer, experts say. “With the majority of pancreatic and breast cancer patients being overweight or obese at diagnosis, uncovering potential therapeutic targets within the mechanisms that associate obesity with poor cancer prognoses is the first step towards developing remedies that could disrupt this association and significantly improve patient outcome,” says Rakesh K. Jain, PhD.
“Being very overweight (obese) is a risk factor for pancreatic cancer. Obese people (body mass index [BMI] of 30 or more) are about 20% more likely to develop pancreatic cancer. Gaining weight as an adult can also increase risk,” warns the American Cancer Society. “Carrying extra weight around the waistline may be a risk factor even in people who are not very overweight.”
“We know that carrying a high proportion of abdominal fat is associated with increased levels of insulin, so we think this may cause the link between obesity and pancreatic cancer,” say researchers from the Women’s Health Initiative.
Pancreatic cancer survival rate: Survivor reveals five symptoms as he battles disease for second time
A pancreatic cancer survivor battling the disease for a second time has shared the early signs people of all ages should know.
Charles Czajkowski, 63, a business development manager for a geotechnical company from Surbiton, Kingston, has “declared war on pancreatic cancer” after a five-year ordeal with two rounds of the disease – which also caused the death of his mother Romaulda, aged 78, in 1999.
Mr Czajkowski, who is hoping treatment he received through his wife’s private healthcare package will save his life, is set to speak to MPs on in the Commons on Wednesday to urge the government to provide greater funding for the condition.
He will speak alongside 20 others who either have the disease or who have lost someone to it as part of Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month.
After his health began to decline in 2017, Charles faced a series of delays to his diagnosis and treatment through the NHS until he accessed Bupa healthcare through the workplace of his wife of 16 years, Jackie Czajkowski.
After initial treatment success, in May 2022 Charles’ cancer returned and private oncologists are now attempting to use a series of drugs, some of which are unavailable on the NHS, to save his life.
Now working to fight the illness and help patients to spot it early, Charles is a pancreatic patient representative and on the scientific advisory board for Pancreatic Cancer UK.
He is also a pancreatic patient representative for NHS Cancer UK, as part of the government’s 10-year plan to help optimise the early diagnostics and early treatment plan for anybody with pancreatic cancer, liver cancer or biliary cancer.
“It’s given me control,” Charles said.
“Pancreatic cancer has declared war on me… so to get back at it, I’ve declared war on pancreatic cancer by being able to help educate and save other people’s lives.
“It’s an awareness battle because pancreatic cancer UK hasn’t had much air time and hasn’t had the investment.”
(Collect/PA Real Life)
Charles’s ordeal as a cancer patient began in 2017 when he was diagnosed with type two diabetes.
Halfway through that year, he had a pancreatic attack – also known as acute pancreatitis – which, according to the NHS, is a severe pain which starts suddenly in the centre of a patient’s abdomen and can also be accompanied by vomiting and a high temperature.
For the rest of the year, Charles was under observation amid repeated pancreatic attacks and he was rapidly losing weight, dropping from 85kg to around 75kg at 6ft tall.
“Another sign that things weren’t going right was that my pancreas wasn’t producing the enzymes and so I started getting what they call pancreatic diarrhea, which is a true sign if your food’s not being digested properly,” Charles added.
As a result, his GP prescribed Charles Pancreatic Enzyme Replacement Therapy (Pert) which made Charles’ weight stable as he was now able to absorb nutrients.
From there, Charles was sent to a series of different hospitals for scans and assessments.
Eventually, at the beginning of March 2019, further tests revealed a 10-millimetre tumour on the head of Charles’ pancreas.
On March 25 2019, Charles met with the head of the surgical team at Hammersmith Hospital alongside his wife and a Macmillan nurse.
“He said to me, Charles, you don’t have chronic pancreatitis, you have pancreatic cancer,” Charles said.
“They had a Macmillan nurse there because obviously people generally go into shock.
“But I suddenly just said, ‘Okay, so what are we going to do about this Professor?’”
The NHS doctor explained to Charles that a whipple procedure to remove the head of the pancreas, the first part of the small intestine, the gallbladder and the bile duct, would take place two months later.
After researching the survival rate for pancreatic cancer, Charles feared this wait time was a risk so decided to go private for the rest of his treatment through his wife’s Bupa medical cover.
Just one week later, his operation was carried out at the London Clinic Hospital using a Da Vinci surgical robot.
“I was basically told to say goodbye to my wife, because the operation comes with a lot of risk,” Charles said.
“So it was very hard when we both went into the pre-med room because I didn’t know if I was going to wake up from this major operation.
“But luckily for me, just when I was saying goodbye, they had just injected me with the pre-med and next thing I was out.”
On April 2, the private operation involved making five holes in Charles’ abdomen, meaning there is less of a rise of infection, and Charles was out of hospital 13 days later.
A month after that Charles began six months of fortnightly chemotherapy sessions, which led to his weight dropping to just around 67kg – before his diagnosis he was around 85kg. “I looked skeletal,” Charles said.
“But I managed to stick it out. With a lot of hard work, you have to fight it, it’s a battle.”
After the chemo, a scan found no instances of new tumours until – at the start of 2020 – another scan revealed dots on his right lung and a lymph node swelling close to his aorta.
By August 2020, the dots had grown into 10-millimetre tumours, so Charles had a lung ablation – a surgical treatment where a probe is inserted which will destroy the tumour with extreme heat or cold.
The lymph node treatment was more complicated as standard radiotherapy would have also touched Charles’ aorta and there was a risk of it rupturing.
Instead, at the beginning of October, Charles was treated at Genesis Care in Oxford with a new technology, MRIdian Linac – a directed radiotherapy using an MRI system so collateral damage is minimised.
After five one-hour sessions over two weeks, the lymph node tumour was gone and there was no damage to Charles’ aorta, meaning Charles’ life could finally return to normal besides the three-month check-up scans.
At this point, Charles decided to dedicate his life, besides his work and family, to pancreatic cancer campaigning, joining Pancreatic Cancer UK and becoming a pancreatic cancer patient representative for Genesis Care.
However, in May 2022, a CT scan revealed his pancreatic cancer had returned in a secondary form.
At this stage, there is no cure for his condition, but Charles’ oncologist put him back on chemotherapy with two new drugs, one of which is not available on the NHS.
After three months of treatment the tumours continued to grow and, in September, Charles began another round of chemotherapy fortnightly.
He will find out if this treatment has shrunk his tumour later this month.
On his visit to parliament, he and others will speak individually to between 60 and 80 MPs who have signed up to the Pancreatic Cancer UK initiative as part of their No Time To Wait campaign.
“Our role is to tell our story, basically, to educate them so they can understand we need more investments,” he said.
Reflecting on his experience with cancer, Charles said: “Fighting cancer is more than fighting it physically, it’s mental.
“You have to concentrate on all the positivity, you can get out of it.
“I’ve travelled all over the world in my job and have been to places that people would have dreamt of going, and I took that for granted.
“But going through cancer puts your whole life into perspective.”
November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month; know the signs and symptoms
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Pancreatic cancer is a lethal disease rarely detected at an early stage.
It is the third leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States.
It is estimated that more than 60,000 Americans will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer by the end of this year, and more than 48,000 people will die of it.
The exact causes pancreatic cancer are still not yet well understood.
Factors that increase the risk of developing pancreatic cancer include diabetes, smoking, chronically inflamed pancreas, family history of genetic disorders that can increase cancer risk, family history of pancreatic cancer, and older age.
Additional factors that may increase risk include consuming a diet high in red or processed meats and obesity.
Dr. Mitra’s previous three columns:
Pancreatic cancer begins in the pancreas — an organ in the abdomen that lies behind the lower portion of the stomach.
The pancreas has two primary functions: It makes digestive enzymes such as amylase and lipase; And it also produces hormones, such as insulin, that control how our bodies store and utilize glucose — sugar that is the body’s primary source of energy.
There are two forms of pancreatic cancer: exocrine and endocrine.
Exocrine cancer accounts for approximately 95 percent of all cases.
Endocrine cancer is also known as pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, or islet cell tumors.
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma represents approximately 85 percent of all pancreatic neoplasms.
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma begins in the ductal cells that deliver digestive enzymes produced by the pancreatic cells into the duodenum.
While some of these risk factors are out of your control, here are some lifestyle choices you can make to reduce your risk:
If you smoke, try to stop. Talk to your doctor about smoking cessation strategies, including medications, support groups, and nicotine replacement therapy.
Work to maintain a healthy diet. Engage in daily aerobic exercise with a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains that may reduce your cancer risk.
Common presenting symptoms in patients with exocrine pancreatic cancer are fatigue, unintentional weight loss, lack of appetite, abdominal pain, dark urine, jaundice, nausea, vomiting, oily stools and back pain.
Signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer typically do not occur until the disease is advanced.
The condition is rarely detected at its early stages when it is the most curable.
Early detection helps save lives. So, learn and share the facts, symptoms and risk factors of pancreatic cancer, motivate healthy choices and provide guidance on when to seek genetic counseling.
November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, which paves the opportunity to learn more about the risk factors of this highly lethal malignancy, inspire the community to take action, and drive research toward a cure.
November is a month of inspiration for communities touched by pancreatic cancer.
Why wait? Call your doctor to help you take the proper steps to prevent pancreatic cancer, seek immediate intervention and educate others.
Dr. Sue Mitra is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and has been practicing in Brevard County since 2022. Dr. Mitra can be reached at 321-622-6222. You can visit her at www.suemitra.com and schedule an appointment. Call now to learn more about pancreatic cancer and assess the risks of this disease.