Experts warn: Pancreatic cancer can be seen more frequently at advanced ages

Pancreatic cancer is seen in 12 out of every 100,000 people, and 227,000 people lose their lives due to this disease worldwide every year. It has been revealed that diarrhea, bloating, and sudden weight loss are among the symptoms of pancreatic cancer. So, why is it difficult to detect pancreatic cancer? Here is everything you need to know about pancreatic cancer...

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Experts warn: Pancreatic cancer can be seen more frequently at advanced ages

Pancreatic cancer is known as an aggressive type of cancer that is generally seen in men and appears more frequently at advanced ages. This disease, which is more commonly encountered between the ages of 40 and 85, accounts for 2% of all cancers and 5% of cancer-related deaths.

While early diagnosis significantly increases treatment success in pancreatic cancer, the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer with an endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) device also carries great importance.

Gastroenterology Specialist Prof. Dr. Salih Boğa provided information regarding pancreatic cancer.

WHY IS IT DIFFICULT TO DETECT PANCREATIC CANCER?

Anatomically, the pancreas is an important organ located just behind the stomach, with exocrine (external secretion) and endocrine (internal secretion) functions.

Exocrine functions mean that the pancreas secretes digestive enzymes. For this reason, when there is pancreatic cancer, patients may present with complaints such as bloating and diarrhea because there is less pancreatic tissue remaining.

With every meal, the stomach expands and empties again. For this reason, there is actually a space around the pancreas. When a cancer or tumor of the pancreas grows, it may not show symptoms for a long time. Worse, many vital blood vessels and nerve bundles pass through and around the pancreas. For this reason, pancreatic cancer can be diagnosed a bit late.

When there are complaints such as painless jaundice, weight loss, abdominal pain, bloating, lightening of stool color, darkening of urine color, abdominal pain that is relieved by leaning forward, or sudden onset of diabetes, it is necessary to consider pancreatic cancer and move toward a diagnosis very quickly. The disease should be diagnosed and treatment should be started before it spreads to vascular structures.

IF YOU SMOKE...

Pancreatic cancer is seen in 12 out of every 100,000 people, and 227,000 people lose their lives due to this disease worldwide every year. Age, obesity, long-term alcohol use, smoking, family history, or past radiation exposure to the abdominal region are among the risk factors for pancreatic cancer.

The treatment of pancreatic cancer varies according to the type of cancer. 90% of pancreatic cancers consist of adenocarcinoma, and 10% consist of neuroendocrine tumors that have the potential to secrete hormones.

The treatment of neuroendocrine tumors can be non-surgical in some cases. They can be treated by delivering radiofrequency under the guidance of endoscopic ultrasound. However, the primary treatment for most is surgery. But in order to perform surgery, the cancer must not have spread to the surrounding blood vessels.

MASS STRUCTURES ARE DETECTED

Early diagnosis significantly increases treatment success in pancreatic cancer. Detailed imaging can be performed with an endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) device.

While endoscopy only sees the stomach wall, thanks to endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS), it is possible to see behind the stomach with an endoscopy device that has an ultrasound attached to its tip, and important points such as its structure, whether there is a mass structure related to cancer, the presence of a mass or a benign tumor, and whether it has an aggressive course can be determined. In a way that the patient will not feel at all, a biopsy can be taken during the endoscopy and the structure of the pieces can be examined quickly, allowing for a very rapid diagnosis regarding the pancreas.

News Source: 12punto