Pancreatic Cancer in the USA: Symptoms, Risk & Treatments

As per studies, pancreatic cancer remains the third most common form of cancer causing death in the USA. The five-year survival rate of cancer remains at 13%, but on the brighter side, there has been a minor improvement in the death rate. In comparison to other forms of cancer, like breast, lung, cervical, and prostate, pancreatic cancer lacks the scope of early detection and screening tests for diagnosis. It is too late by the time the detection is done,  thus narrowing down the survival rate. 

Even with early detection, more than half of the patients do not survive for more than five years, as it is highly aggressive in nature, making the treatment process tougher. You will get a detailed insight in this content piece for a better understanding of pancreatic cancer, its symptoms, risk factors, treatment options, and survival rate. 

How Important is Pancreas?

Pancreas is a vital glandular organ that is located deep in our abdomen. A part of the pancreas lies between the stomach and the spine. The remaining part lies in the curve of the duodenum. They have two primary functions: digestion and blood sugar regulation. So, it has duality in its functioning, acting as a digestive gland as well as an organ that produces important hormones. The proper functioning of the pancreas ensures that the digestive system works well and the body gets the required energy to maintain a balanced routine. 

Solely because of its location, a pancreatic tumor cannot be felt easily, which contributes to the late detection of pancreatic cancer. The symptoms only start to appear when the tumor begins to interfere with and disrupt the proper functioning of the pancreas, along with other organs like the gallbladder, liver, duodenum, and stomach. 

What are the Symptoms of Pancreatic Cancer?

Early signs and symptoms are less common in pancreatic cancer. The symptoms are quite similar to viral hepatitis or gallstones. This delays the process of detection until it's too late. Some of the symptoms are:

• A sharp pain in the upper abdomen, along with pain in the back, right behind the upper abdomen
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss, fatigue, nausea, and diarrhea
• Foul-smelling, dark, or floating stools
• Jaundice and itchy skin
• Vomiting blood and a worsening case of diabetes

How is it caused?

A large number of cells together form the pancreas. Normal functioning of the body involves the formation of new cells through division. Once they get old, they die, and the new cells take their place. There are times when this cycle breaks.  The new cells get formed even without a need, and the old cells do not die. This causes an abnormal growth of cells inside your pancreas, which aggregate together and form masses called tumors. 

Some benign tumors are not harmful and cannot invade other parts of the body. The other type of tumor, the aggressive one, is malignant, as they uncontrollably and can easily spread to other organs and tissues of the body. Thus pancreatic cancer is developed. In its aggressive form, it spreads to the liver, lungs, abdominal wall, bones, and lymph nodes. 

Different Types of Pancreatic Cancer.

Pancreatic Cancer is either exocrine or endocrine in nature, depending on the location of the tumor. If plagued with the symptoms discussed, it is best to get yourself checked by a specialist to know what type of cancer you have. 

• Exocrine Tumor: Nearly 90% of the pancreatic tumors are exocrine in nature. This type of cancer develops in the lining of the pancreatic duct. They are further classified according to their nature of occurrence:
• Adenocarcinoma
• Acinar cell carcinoma
• Adenosquamous carcinoma
• Pancreatoblastoma
• Squamous cell carcinoma
• Solid pseudopapillary tumor
• Endocrine Tumor: Around 10% of people suffer from pancreatic cancer, which is endocrine in nature. They are known as pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETS) and are found in the pancreas. 

Other than these two types, there are non-cancerous tumors that can occur in the pancreas. These are the cysts, which mostly do not cause any harm, but over time some of them may turn into a malignant tumor. 

What are Risk Factors for Pancreatic Cancer?

There is no written rule that pancreatic cancer occurs in a specific set of people. It can occur to anyone, but there are certain factors that put you at risk and make you more prone to getting pancreatic cancer. 

• Smoking: This is a major risk as the chemicals in tobacco tend to damage the pancreas if the use is prolonged. It further increases the chances of cancer. 
• Type 2 Diabetes: Type-2 diabetes has been directly linked with a person getting pancreatic cancer. It is because of the insulin changes and the related regulation of blood sugar levels. 
• Age: Pancreatic cancer tends to occur more among people who are above the age of 60. When the body ages, the statistical probability of the cells forming a mass and a subsequent tumor is higher. 
• Family History: Some people get diagnosed with pancreatic cancer because of an inherited genetic mutation from their parents or close relatives. 
• Poor Diet and Obesity: Not eating right and being overweight are both direct factors affecting the overall metabolism and health of the pancreas. 

How is it Diagnosed?

When symptoms like weight loss, fatigue, nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain appear consistently, a doctor usually starts with a physical exam and blood test. Once the test confirms the presence of cancer, further tests would be done to narrow down the exact nature of the pancreatic cancer. 

Blood Test: Marker test, such as CA 19-9, can be done to check the tumor. It is not an entirely reliable test, but the value tends to be higher for pancreatic cancer.  

Imaging Tests: Imaging tests like ultrasound, CT scan, MRI scan, and endoscopic ultrasound can be done to check the pancreas at a more intricate level. 

Biopsy: A small sample of the tissue would be collected and examined under the microscope. This will help determine the type of tumor that has developed in the pancreas. 

What is the Treatment Option?

The treatment to be followed depends on the health of the patient, personal choice, and the stage of cancer at which detection was done. The doctors put together a team to narrow down the best treatment to be followed as per the patient's needs and requirements. 

Surgery: This stands as the most suitable treatment mode that offers the best chance of survival. It can be done if it is detected early and has not spread to different parts of the body. The patient can either go for a whipple procedure or distal pancreatectomy. The recovery is quite exhausting, but for the patients who can opt for it, it shows the most positive results. 

Radiotherapy: The method makes use of high-energy rays to destroy the cancerous cells. This can get clubbed with chemotherapy to increase the overall effectiveness of the treatment. 

Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy makes use of medicines to slow the growth of the tumor or kill the cancerous cells. It can be given before surgery, after surgery, or as a main treatment method if the cancer has advanced. Some of the side effects include hair loss, nausea, a weaker immune system, and tiredness. 

Can We Combat Pancreatic Cancer?

The good news is that there has been a breakthrough with the treatment of pancreatic cancer, as a new drug shows promising results of doubling the survival rate. The drug names daraxonrasib lead to a reduced risk of death to nearly 60%, along with causing a shrink in the tumor in 33% of patients who were treated with the drug. 

But it is always said that prevention is better than a cure. So, you can reduce the risk by not smoking, non-usage of tobacco products, following a healthy lifestyle and diet, reducing alcohol intake, and regular exercise. 

Moving Forward

Cancer diagnosis is in itself a harrowing experience. It takes a toll on your mental and physical health. The treatment options, along with the rehabilitation, can be expensive and overwhelming for you if you donot have the right health insurance plan to provide financial protection and support. So, having a good health insurance  is quite important, which helps reduce stress about cost and focus more on care and recovery.

Niva Bupa NRI Health Insurance is a specialised plan that allows you to get the treatment done while living abroad. The plan caters to individual needs and requirements, providing quality healthcare access and comprehensive coverage for the treatment plan chosen. You can thus put your full attention to getting better rather than getting fixated on how to manage the entire cost. 

FAQs

1. Are there any early symptoms of pancreatic cancer?

There are no early or specific symptoms of pancreatic cancer. It does not usually show the symptoms until a later stage, when it has spread at a larger rate throughout the body. 

2. Is pancreatic cancer painful?

Yes, it is painful as it causes sharp abdominal pain. This gets worse, especially in the top part of the tummy and back, if you are lying down or trying to eat. They can also be localized to different parts of the body. 

3. Can lifestyle changes lower the risk of pancreatic cancer?

Yes, making significant lifestyle changes can lower the risk of pancreatic cancer. These are some of the ways by which you can do the same:

• Quit smoking
• Substantially lower overall alcohol intake
• Exercise regularly and follow healthy nutritious diet