Pancreas Cancer: 5 Things You Need To Know

Posted on: Feb 22, 2024 | 3 mins | Written by: HDFC ERGO Team

Pancreas Cancer: 5 Things You Need To Know

Being diagnosed with any type of cancer can bring our lives to a standstill. You may have heard about pancreatic cancer, which affects the organ in our abdomen. What you may not know is that survival rates in this type of cancer are low because this disease is difficult to detect in its early stages. However, once detected, you would need a health insurance plan with adequate coverage to opt for the best healthcare facility for its treatment.

What is Pancreatic Cancer?

Pancreatic cancer is a type of carcinoma found in the pancreas, an organ located behind the stomach. The pancreas has two main functions – producing hormones like insulin and glucagon that help regulate blood sugar levels and enzymes that help digest food. Pancreatic cancer occurs when cells in the pancreas undergo mutations and grow uncontrollably, forming tumours.

Pancreatic cancer is often diagnosed in the advanced stages because the symptoms are not noticeable until it has spread to other organs. The location of the organ makes it difficult to detect the disease in the early stages.

Types of Pancreatic Cancer

There are two main types of pancreatic cancer —

1. Pancreatic adenocarcinoma: This is the most common type found in 95% of pancreatic cancer patients. It begins in the exocrine cells, which help in producing pancreatic enzymes like amylase, lipase, and proteases that help in digestion.

2. Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours: This type of pancreatic cancer is rare, affecting less than 10% of people. This starts in the endocrine cells of the pancreas.

How Common is Pancreatic Cancer?

Compared to other types of cancer, pancreatic carcinoma is relatively less common. As per reports, globally, pancreatic cancer is the 12th most common cancer in men and the 11th most common form of cancer in women.

Symptoms and Causes

Symptoms of pancreatic cancer usually show up during the advanced stages when the tumours start affecting other organs in the digestive system. Some of the symptoms include:

• Loss of appetite

• Weight loss, which can be sudden and unintentional

• Lower back pain and upper abdominal pain

• Jaundice

• Dark urine

• Blood clots

• Nausea and vomiting

• Fatigue

• Itchy skin

• Depression

• Light-coloured stool

How long does it take to notice pancreatic cancer?

Pancreatic cancer is often diagnosed at an advanced stage as there aren’t any early signs. In its early stages, the symptoms can be vague and similar to common medical conditions like stomach aches or back pain. Some people have vague symptoms for about one year before they get diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

What causes pancreatic cancer?

There’s no clear-cut reason as to what causes pancreatic cancer, but experts have identified certain factors which can increase the risk of developing it.

• Smoking: Studies show that about 20-35 per cent of pancreatic cancer cases are due to smoking cigarettes, cigars, or other forms of tobacco.

• Obesity: Being overweight or obese, particularly around your waist, can increase your risk.

• Alcohol consumption: Excessive consumption of alcohol may increase the risk of developing pancreatic cancer.

• Family history: Pancreatic cancer can be hereditary, which means those with a family history of pancreatic cancer are at a higher risk.

• Diet: A diet high in red and processed meats, sugar, and fried foods and a low intake of fruits and vegetables may be associated with pancreatic cancer.

• Pancreatitis: If a person suffers from chronic pancreatitis or inflammation of the pancreas, there’s a high risk of developing pancreatic cancer.

• Exposure to chemicals: Being exposed to certain chemicals, like those used in the metalworking industry, can put you at risk of pancreatic cancer.

• Diabetes: Chronic diabetics are at high risk of pancreatic cancer. However, it’s not clear whether diabetes causes pancreatic cancer or it’s a symptom.

Complications of pancreatic cancer

Some of the complications of pancreatic cancer include the following —

• Jaundice: The tumours in the pancreas block the bile duct, leading to the accumulation of bilirubin in the blood. This can cause jaundice, a condition in which there’s yellowing of the skin and eyes.

• Weight loss: In pancreatic cancer, the tumours compress the walls of the stomach, leading to loss of appetite. The patient also finds it difficult to eat due to nausea and vomiting. As a result, the person loses a lot of weight.

• Pain: When the tumours compress the nearby blood vessels, tissues, and organs, it causes severe abdominal pain. This generally occurs in the advanced stages. Painkillers can help provide relief.

• Metastasis: Pancreatic cancer has the potential to metastasize or spread to other organs, such as the liver, lungs, lymph nodes, and blood vessels, which can complicate the disease more.

Complications can vary from person to person. Early diagnosis and treatment can help in managing the complications.

Treatment for Pancreatic Cancer

Treatment for pancreatic cancer depends on the stage of the carcinoma, its location, how much it has spread, and other medical conditions. The treatment options include the following —

• Surgery: Doctors recommend surgery only if cancer is confined to the pancreas. If the tumour has grown big and spread to nearby areas, surgery will not work. The surgical procedures depend on the size and location of the tumour. If the tumour is in the head of the pancreas, surgeons prefer a Whipple procedure, in which they cut off the diseased portion and part of the organ from the head close to nearby organs like the gall bladder, bile duct and small intestine. After removal of the tumour they attach the organs again. If the tail of the pancreas is affected, the procedure is called distal pancreatectomy, in which the tail and sometimes the spleen are removed. If cancer has spread, the surgeon will remove the entire pancreas, spleen, gall bladder, and some portions of your small intestine and stomach. This procedure is called total pancreatectomy.

• Chemotherapy: Drugs are given to kill cancer cells and prevent further growth. Chemotherapy is recommended for those who are in an advanced stage of cancer.

• Radiation: In this method, X-rays and high-energy beams are used to kill cancer cells.

• Targeted therapy: In targeted therapy, drugs target and kill only the cancer cells. In chemotherapy and radiation, other cells can also be harmed.

• Pain management: Your doctor will prescribe painkillers or steroids to relieve pain and discomfort.

Recovery

If diagnosed in the early stages, pancreatic cancer can be cured to a certain extent. Post-surgery and treatments, you have to follow the guidelines as advised by your doctor: certain lifestyle changes can help you recover faster.

Conclusion

Pancreatic cancer is not common but is considered aggressive. The symptoms don’t generally appear in the early stages. It is diagnosed only when cancer has reached the advanced stages and spread to other organs of the body, making it difficult to treat. Treatment involves only managing the symptoms and helping patients live a comfortable life as long as possible. Cancer treatments are expensive; health insurance or cancer insurance can relieve your financial burden by covering medical expenses. While buying health insurance, check the coverage and if it covers pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer treatment, etc.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purposes only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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