What is pancreatic cancer?

Pancreatic cancer is a malignant tumor that develops in the pancreas.

Is this cancer dangerous?

Pancreatic cancer is difficult to detect and therefore often diagnosed in stages III and IV, so statistics show that only 19% of patients with untreated pancreatic cancer live another 1 year after diagnosis, and only 4% of patients are more lucky and Live for another 5 years.

Is there only one form of this type of cancer?

While 95% of the pancreas is occupied by the so-called exocrine glands and their production products (which "produce" and deliver the digestive enzymes through the gastrointestinal tract), the cancer is more often found in the exocrine part of the pancreas, less commonly there is endocrine active cancer, which Develops from cells that produce insulin and glucoquine.

The most common type of pancreatic cancer is adenocarcinoma, which develops from exocrine gland compounds.

What are the risk factors for the development of exocrine pancreatic cancer?

• Age over 60 years

Men are more at risk than women.

• Black people

• Diabetes

• A diet rich in meat and fat

• Chronic inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis)

• Smoking (cigarettes)

• Removal of the gallbladder

• Other (heredity)

What activity increases the risk of developing pancreatic cancer?

• Work in dry cleaning

• Work with pesticides

• Sawmill work

• Any production of electrical products

• Work in mines

• Metalworking

Why does smoking increase the risk of developing this type of cancer?

The chemical substances present in the cigarette smoke damage the genetic material of the cell (DNA), making the cells carcinogenic. And refusing to smoke, carcinogenic cells are replaced by new, healthy cells, which means - it's never too late to quit smoking!

Why does chronic pancreatitis increase the risk of developing this type of cancer?

Chronic pancreatitis is a long-term inflammation of the pancreas . In fact, it is not yet clear, but scientists believe that pancreatitis provokes accelerated cell division, thereby creating a lesser probability for carcinogenic cells to be replaced by healthy cells.

Why does diabetes increase the risk of developing this type of cancer?

In the case of diabetes, pancreatic cells work inefficiently, and this reduces control of other cells of this organ, which makes them carcinogenic. Women who suffer from diabetes are more likely to develop cervical cancer.

Is there a higher risk of developing pancreatic cancer if the father, mother, brother or sister were ill?

Yes. As a result of the mutation, there is a change in the genetic material of the cells.

How can you suspect pancreatic cancer?

Usually there are no symptoms at an early stage, they do not appear until the disease progresses. Then there may be pain in the abdomen, weight loss, jaundice (skin, mucous membranes and eyes acquire a yellow tinge), there is an upset stomach (fat is not processed), an increase in the gallbladder. It should be noted that similar symptoms can have many benign diseases. Approximately 10% of patients with diabetes mellitus may be the first symptom of this type of cancer.

Is there a special analysis that allows you to diagnose this type of cancer in the early stages?

There are not yet any screening tests that would diagnose pancreatic cancer at the initial stage.

Every year, research and clinical trials of new methods for diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer are carried out. One of the leading countries in this field is Germany with its experienced oncologists and the latest medical equipment.