Early Detection Of Pancreatic Cancer

Main Category: Pancreatic Cancer
Also Included In: GastroIntestinal / Gastroenterology
Article Date: 05 Nov 2007 - 4:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   view / write opinions   rate article

November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month. The American Cancer Society estimates that 37,170 people in the United States will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2007.

Because the pancreas is deep inside the body, the doctor cannot see or feel tumors during a routine physical exam making it difficult to detect pancreatic cancer early. For those with a strong family history of pancreatic cancer, tests are available to determine if they are at a higher risk for the disease.

These tests are not used to screen the general public. However, knowing the risk factors and symptoms of pancreatic cancer may reduce your chances of developing this disease or detecting it earlier.

Risk Factors of Pancreatic Cancer

- Age - The risk of this cancer increases with age. Almost 90 percent of patients are older than 55.

- Gender - Men are diagnosed with this type of cancer slightly more often than women.

- Race - African-Americans are more likely to develop this type of cancer.

- Smoking - The risk of this cancer is two to three times higher among smokers. About three in 10 cases of pancreatic cancer are thought to be caused by smoking.

-Diet - There may be a link between pancreatic cancer and high-fat diets that include a lot of red meat and pork, especially processed meat (such as sausage and bacon).

- Obesity and lack of exercise - Very overweight people are more likely to develop pancreatic cancer, as are those who do not get much exercise.

- Diabetes - Pancreatic cancer is more common in people with this disease.

- Chronic Pancreatitis - This is a long-term inflammation of the pancreas. It is linked with a slightly higher risk of pancreatic cancer.

- Work exposure - Heavy exposure at work to certain substances (pesticides, dyes or chemicals) may increase risk.

- Family history - One in 10 cases of pancreatic cancer may be linked to genetics. Changes in DNA that increase the risk for other cancers also increase the risk of pancreatic cancer.

- Stomach problems - Having too much stomach acid or having H. pylori bacteria in the stomach may increase your risk.

Symptoms of Pancreatic Cancer

- Jaundice - A yellow color of the eyes and skin is called jaundice. It is caused by a build-up of a substance, bilirubin, that is made in the liver. At least half of all people with pancreatic cancer have jaundice. While jaundice can be a sign of cancer, more often it is caused by something else.

- Pain - Pain in the abdominal area or in the middle of the back is a very common sign of advanced pancreatic cancer. Again, such pain is often caused by something other than cancer.

- Weight loss - Losing weight (without trying) over a number of months is very common in patients with pancreatic cancer. They may also feel very tired and not feel like eating.

- Digestive problems - If the cancer blocks the release of the pancreatic juice into the intestine, problems such as trouble breaking down fat can result. Other problems may include nausea, vomiting and pain that is usually worse after eating.

- Swollen gallbladder - The doctor may find that the gallbladder is enlarged. This can be felt and seen on imaging studies.

Treatment at the Penn Pancreatic Biliary Center

The Penn Pancreatic Biliary Center is one of the busiest pancreatic surgery programs in the United States. At the center, Penn physicians are involved in the ongoing research and development of new surgical techniques and new treatments for diseases of the pancreas, bile duct, liver and stomach.

Studies show that successful pancreatic cancer surgery requires accurate diagnosis and surgeons who are experienced in these complicated procedures. Penn combines that experience with leading-edge research to create a significant advantage for patients who choose Penn for their treatment.

Physicians at Penn have pioneered the most accurate detection and treatment of the myriad of diseases within the human digestive tract, especially digestive cancer. At Penn, specialized techniques such as endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) are important tools in the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal tumors.

Penn's multidisciplinary team of gastrointestinal surgeons and gastroenterologists work together with other specialists to review each patient's case and provide the best possible treatment.

University of Pennsylvania Health System