Yes, You Need This Pancreatic Cancer Primer
Approximately six inches long, the pancreas is tucked between your stomach and spine. There, it assists in controlling your blood sugar levels by helping to create enzymes that break down food. When cancer settles in, symptoms may only arise after the cancer has spread to nearby organs. You may experience abdominal pain, weight loss or jaundice.听
鈥淏ecause the signs and symptoms are often non-specific, it鈥檚 quite hard sometimes to diagnose pancreatic cancer,鈥 says Despina Siolas, M.D., Ph.D., medical oncologist and pancreatic cancer researcher at 91麻豆精品 and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. 鈥As a result, patients often present at a later stage.鈥听
What Causes Pancreatic Cancer?听
According to the , the average age of a pancreatic cancer diagnosis is 70. However, growing older isn鈥檛 the only risk factor for the disease.听听
You鈥檙e also at an increased risk of pancreatic cancer due to the following:听
- Diabetes. Specifically, Type 2 diabetes increases your risk.听
- Race. African Americans are more likely than white people to have pancreatic cancer.听
- Family history. While most people who get pancreatic cancer do not have a family history of it, it can run in some families.听听
- Pancreatitis. Living with chronic inflammation of the pancreas ups your cancer risk.听
- Sex. Men experience pancreatic cancer more often than women.听
- Smoking. This is one of the most important risk factors.听听
- Wei