November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month when communities around the globe unite on World Pancreatic Cancer Day on 21 November to highlight the need for greater awareness, funding and research for pancreatic cancer.
According to a statement by Kerry Simpson on behalf of Abbott Laboratories, one of the major challenges associated with pancreatic cancer is that the condition often goes undetected for a long period of time because signs and symptoms seldom occur until advanced stages. By the time symptoms occur, cancer cells are likely to have spread (metastasised) to other parts of the body, often preventing surgical removal of tumours.
Prof Jose Ramos, head of HPB Surgery, Wits University Donald Gordon Medical Centre explained, “Pancreatic cancer is often called a silent disease because it’s hard to spot early, at the stage when it’s most treatable. Spread of the cancer occurs early which contributes to the poor outcome. Besides knowing the symptoms, knowing the risk factors for pancreatic cancer is your best protection against this disease.”
Symptoms include the following:
- Digestive difficulties
Simpson said that digestive difficulties including indigestion, nausea, weight loss, a poor appetite, and diarrhoea, can arise as a result of pressure from a pancreatic cyst or tumour on the stomach or the small intestine, in some cases causing a block in the digestive tract. When a tumour grows, it can wrap around the far end of the stomach or duodenum, causing a partial block. This can cause nausea, vomiting, and pain which may worsen after eating.
- Unexplained weight loss
Prof Ramos said this is a common symptom in many cancers and is often accompanied by a general loss of appetite and fatigue. The weight loss can be caused by cancerous cells that deprive healthy cells of required nutrients.
- Jaundice
Jaundice is identified primarily by the skin and the whites of the eyes becoming yellow or greenish-yellow. However, Prof Ramos said that dark urine and light or clay-coloured stools are usually the first symptoms of this type of jaundice occurring before the skin and eye changes are noted. Jaundice occurs when bilirubin, a component of bile, builds up in your blood.
- Upper abdominal pain
“Abdominal pain is a common symptom of pancreatic cancer,” said Prof Ramos. “It is usually felt in the upper central or upper left abdomen and often radiates to the middle or upper back and worsens after eating or when lying down. Abdominal pain commonly occurs with advanced pancreatic cancer and can be difficult to control.”
- New-onset diabetes
Simpson explained that the sudden onset of diabetes in people with normal body mass index is often a warning sign of pancreatic abnormalities and can be a symptom of pancreatic cancer. Additionally, when well-controlled diabetes suddenly becomes brittle or poorly controlled, this change can also be a warning sign for pancreatic cancer.
Treatment
Prof Ramos said that options for treating pancreatic cancer include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and palliative care, depending on the specific characteristics of the cancer. “Ideally, patients with pancreatic cancer should be treated in units with the necessary experience and expertise in dealing with this complex disease. Even if cure is not possible, modern chemotherapy and radiotherapy may be able to prolong life and maintain quality of life.”
Consult your physician as soon as possible if you are experiencing these symptoms. If you are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, discuss your treatment options carefully and thoroughly with your physician.
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