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Pancreatic cancer is the 10th most common cancer in the United States, but because it is often diagnosed at a late stage, it is the third leading cause of cancer-related death.
Knowing the risk factors and symptoms of pancreatic cancer can help you get a diagnosis as quickly as possible. Here, you’ll learn what you need to know about the different types of pancreatic cancer, their symptoms, and how to reduce your risk of developing the disease.
What is pancreatic cancer?
Pancreatic cancer occurs when a tumor develops somewhere in the pancreas, the gland between the stomach and spine. The pancreas produces enzymes that help digest food and hormones to balance blood sugar levels. When abnormal cells in the pancreas grow out of control, tumors can form.
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, which is cancer of the exocrine cells, part of 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 insulinomas, form in pancreatic cells that produce hormones that regulate blood sugar levels. They generally grow more slowly than exocrine cancers. There are several subtypes of this type of tumor.
Who develops pancreatic cancer?
Anyone can get pancreatic cancer. Most people who develop this disorder are over the age of 45, and the average age of diagnosis is 70. Black people are more likely to develop pancreatic cancer than white people. And men are more likely to develop this disorder than women.
However, this trend is changing. The incidence of pancreatic cancer in women and people under 55 years of age is increasing faster than in other groups. The incidence of pancreatic cancer in black people continues to increase faster than in white people.
Researchers aren’t sure why rates rise more in some groups than in others.
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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 stomach and spreads to the sides or back
- loss of appetite
- Lose weight without trying
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), sometimes itching
- Floating or brightly colored stools
- dark urine
- Pre-existing diabetes that has recently become more difficult to diagnose or 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?
Pancreatic cancer can be difficult to diagnose because it often has no symptoms in the early stages. Because the pancreas is located so deep in the body, tumors are difficult to detect during routine physical examinations.
There is no specific test for pancreatic cancer. Your healthcare provider (HCP) will begin by taking your medical history, asking about your symptoms, and performing a physical examination.
Next is usually an imaging test to look inside the body. These 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 analyze pieces of the tumor) may also be needed to confirm the diagnosis, determine the stage of the cancer, and recommend treatment options.
Can you reduce your risk of developing pancreatic cancer?
Some risk factors for developing pancreatic cancer may be beyond your control, including family history, certain genetic mutations, being black, having Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry, or being over age 60.
Certain health conditions also increase your risk, such as:
- chronic pancreatitis
- obesity
- periodontal disease
You can also reduce your risk by making lifestyle changes that benefit your overall health.
- Don’t smoke. People who smoke have twice the risk of developing pancreatic cancer compared to people who have never smoked.
- Control 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 exposure cannot be reduced, wear protective equipment such as masks and gloves when handling these chemicals.
- Talk to your health care provider about how to manage cysts or precancerous neoplasms found in the pancreas.
This educational material was produced with the support of . Merck.
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