Pancreatic cancer is the 10th most common cancer in the United States. However, because it is often in an advanced stage by the time it is diagnosed, it is the third leading cause of cancer-related death.
Knowing the risk factors and symptoms of pancreatic cancer can help you get the earliest possible diagnosis. Here’s what you need to know about the different types of pancreatic cancer, their symptoms, and how to lower your risk of disease.
What is pancreatic cancer?
Pancreatic cancer is when a tumor develops somewhere in the pancreas, a gland between the stomach and spine. The pancreas makes enzymes that help the body digest food and hormones that balance blood sugar levels. If abnormal cells in the pancreas grow out of control, they can form tumors.
Are there different types of pancreatic cancer?
yes. Pancreatic cancer is classified as exocrine or neuroendocrine cancer, depending on where the cancer cells originate.
Most pancreatic cancers are exocrine cancers. In other words, it is a cancer that occurs in the exocrine cells that make up the glands and ducts that help digest food.
About 9.5 out of 10 exocrine cancers begin in the pancreatic duct and are called pancreatic adenocarcinomas.
Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs), also called islet cell tumors, form from cells in the pancreas that make hormones that regulate blood sugar levels. They generally grow more slowly than exocrine cancers. There are several subtypes of this type of tumor.
What are the most common symptoms of pancreatic cancer?
Patients with pancreatic cancer typically have no symptoms in the early stages of the disease, which can make diagnosis difficult.
Symptoms of late-stage pancreatic cancer include:
- Pain that starts in the abdomen and spreads to the sides or back
- loss of appetite
- Lose weight without trying
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), which sometimes causes itching
- Light-colored or floating poop
- dark urine
- A new diagnosis of diabetes or diabetes that is becoming increasingly difficult to control
- Pain and swelling in the arms or legs (which may be caused by a blood clot)
- Feeling tired or weak
How is pancreatic cancer diagnosed?
Diagnosis can be difficult in the early stages of pancreatic cancer because there are usually no symptoms. Because the pancreas is located so deep in the body, tumors are difficult to feel during a routine physical exam.
There is no single test for pancreatic cancer. Your health care provider (HCP) will begin by taking your medical history, asking questions about the symptoms you are experiencing, and performing a physical examination.
Imaging tests are then usually done to look inside the body. These tests may include:
- Computed tomography (CT) scan
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- ultrasound
- cholangiopancreatography
- Positron emission tomography (PET) scan
Blood tests and a biopsy (surgery to remove and observe part of the tumor) may also be done to confirm the diagnosis, determine the stage of the cancer, and recommend treatment options.
Can you lower your risk of developing pancreatic cancer?
Some risk factors for developing cancer may be beyond your control, such as family history, certain genetic mutations, being black or Ashkenazi Jewish, and being over age 60.
Certain health conditions also increase your risk, such as:
- chronic pancreatitis
- obesity
- gum disease
You can lower your risk by making lifestyle changes that also benefit your overall health.
- Don’t smoke. People who smoke are twice as likely to develop pancreatic cancer compared to people who never smoke.
- Try to manage your weight. Having a lot of fat in your abdomen increases your risk of pancreatic cancer.
- Eat a nutritious, balanced diet that is low in red and processed meat.
- Avoid drinking alcohol or limit your drinking to one drink per day.
- Try to reduce your exposure to certain chemicals and heavy metals, such as asbestos. If you cannot reduce your exposure, wear protective equipment, such as a mask and gloves, when handling the chemical.
- Talk to your health care provider about how to manage precancerous tumors or cysts found in your pancreas.
This training material was created with support from:m Merck.
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