Pancreatic cancer originates in the tissues of your pancreas, which is responsible for producing and releasing enzymes that help your body digest fats, proteins, and carbohydrates. This cancer accounts for an estimated 3% of all cancers in the United States and an estimated 7% of all cancer deaths.
Knowing the causes and risk factors of pancreatic cancer can help you take the right steps to prevent this cancer, even if it runs in your family. Pancreatic cancer doesn’t usually produce symptoms in its early stages which is why prevention is essential to staying healthy.
Causes of Pancreatic Cancer
Pancreatic cancer occurs when the DNA in the cells in your pancreas develops mutations. These mutations, or abnormalities, can cause your pancreatic cells to grow rapidly and out of control and stay alive long after they should die naturally. When not treated, these abnormal cells can lead to the formation of cancerous tumors and cause additional complications including abdominal pain, weight loss, and bowel obstruction.
Certain factors may increase your risk of developing pancreatic cancer. These risk factors include:
- Smoking
- Heavy alcohol use
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Pancreatitis (chronic inflammation of the pancreas)
- Advanced age
- Poor nutrition, or a diet high in fried foods, processed meats, sugar, and cholesterol
- Frequent exposure to toxic, cancer-causing chemicals
- Family history of pancreatic cancer
- Family history of certain genetic syndromes, such as a BRCA2 gene mutation or Lynch syndrome
Symptoms of Pancreatic Cancer
Pancreatic cancer doesn’t usually cause symptoms until the disease is advanced. It is possible to have this cancer for several months or years before it starts producing symptoms.
Common symptoms of pancreatic cancer include:
- Abdominal pain, which may radiate to your back
- Lower back pain
- Loss of appetite
- Unexplained weight loss
- Nausea and vomiting
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and the whites of your eyes)
- Itching skin
- Dark-colored urine
- Light-colored or greasy stools
- Fatigue
- Depression
- Blood clots
- Onset of diabetes or worsening of existing diabetes
Diagnosing Pancreatic Cancer
If you think you might have pancreatic cancer, your healthcare provider may order one or more diagnostic tests to identify the root cause of your symptoms. Diagnostic tests for pancreatic cancer include:
- Computerized tomography (CT) scan
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Positron emission tomography (PET) scan
- Ultrasound
- Biopsy
- Blood test, to check for the presence of specific proteins, such as CA19-9, that are shed by pancreatic cancer cells
Some of the tests used to diagnose pancreatic cancer, such as ultrasound and biopsy, may involve the use of an endoscope. An endoscope is a thin, flexible tube that can be inserted into your esophagus and down into your stomach. It can be used to capture images of your pancreas during an ultrasound or to remove a small sample of tissue from the pancreas during a biopsy.
Treatments for Pancreatic Cancer
The goal of treatment for pancreatic cancer is to remove the cancer and any mutated cells in the pancreas that can form new tumors. Surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy are among the most common treatments for pancreatic cancer.
Surgery may be performed to remove one or more tumors from the pancreas or to remove the entire pancreas. In some instances, your surgeon may also need to remove other organs, such as your gallbladder, part of the bile duct, part of the small intestine, and nearby affected lymph nodes. If surgery is performed to remove your entire pancreas, you may need lifelong insulin and enzyme replacement for long-term survival.
Radiation therapy utilizes high-energy beams to destroy cancer cells, while chemotherapy employs one or more medications that can destroy cancer cells.
Your provider can talk to you in greater detail about all your available treatment options for pancreatic cancer and about what to expect in terms of side effects and recovery.
Preventing Pancreatic Cancer
You can reduce your risk for pancreatic cancer by quitting smoking. Cigarettes and other tobacco products are loaded with thousands of chemicals that contribute to inflammation and increase the risk for a number of cancers—including pancreatic cancer. If you need help quitting, talk to your doctor about effective smoking cessation treatments, such as medications that reduce your desire to smoke or forms of nicotine replacement like patches and gums.
Other steps you can take to prevent pancreatic cancer and reduce your risk include:
- Limiting your alcohol intake
- Losing excess weight
- Exercising regularly, which can help flush toxins from your body and help you maintain a healthy weight
- Eating healthy, whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, fish, poultry, and other non-processed foods
- Reducing your exposure to toxins and wearing appropriate safety gear if you work around chemicals
Make an appointment with your healthcare provider if you meet the risk factors for pancreatic cancer or are experiencing symptoms of this disease. Your doctor can perform an evaluation, discuss available treatments, and refer you to a specialist who can help.