Be careful if you have these symptoms

The third Thursday of November every year is World Pancreatic Cancer Day. Pancreatic cancer is known as the "King of Cancer" in the medical community because of its hidden onset, low early diagnosis rate, rapid progression, and poor prognosis. Faced with pancreatic cancer, which is known as the "King of Cancer", are we really helpless?

1. Dangerous pancreatic cancer
With the advancement of medical technology, the survival rate of most cancers is increasing. For example, breast cancer, gastric cancer, colorectal cancer and other tumors have greatly improved their survival rates in recent decades. However, there is an exception to this tumor, that is, pancreatic cancer. The survival rate of pancreatic cancer has been stagnant. The five-year survival rate of pancreatic cancer is only 5% to 10%. Most patients die within half a year of diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. It is the malignant tumor with the worst survival rate and the highest mortality rate. Pancreatic cancer is known as the "King of Cancer" in the medical community because of its hidden onset, low early diagnosis rate, rapid progression, and extremely poor prognosis. Why is pancreatic cancer so dangerous and the survival rate of patients so low? There are two reasons for this: one is that the pancreas is hidden in the retroperitoneum, and the early symptoms of pancreatic cancer are not obvious; the other is that the natural course of pancreatic cancer develops very quickly. In other words, the window period for early detection of pancreatic cancer is very short.

2. What are the early symptoms?
The early symptoms of pancreatic cancer are diverse and atypical. Many symptoms are similar to upper gastrointestinal diseases, so they are easily ignored by people in daily life and are often treated as stomach diseases. The early signals are as follows:
1. Recent unexplained abdominal pain and back pain
2. Obstructive jaundice
3. Sudden and significant weight loss
4. Sudden increase in blood sugar
5. Indigestion
6. Pancreatitis

3. Which groups of people are prone to pancreatic cancer?
According to the "Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer (2022 Edition)" issued by the National Health Commission, the cause of pancreatic cancer has not yet been fully clarified. Epidemiological surveys show that the incidence of pancreatic cancer is related to multiple risk factors. Long-term smoking, advanced age, high-fat diet, excessive body mass index, chronic pancreatitis or concomitant diabetes are possible non-hereditary risk factors for pancreatic cancer. Family inheritance is a high-risk factor for pancreatic cancer, and about 10% of pancreatic cancer patients have family inheritance.

IV. How to detect pancreatic cancer early

1. Clinically, we should be alert to the alarm symptoms of pancreatic cancer

If symptoms such as loss of appetite, abdominal pain and bloating, yellowing of the skin and sclera, lighter stool color, and unexplained weight loss occur, the possibility of pancreatic lesions should be considered.

2. Pay attention to the detection and screening of high-risk groups

As we all know, there are no symptoms in the early stage of cancer, and the same is true for pancreatic cancer. Generally, when the early symptoms mentioned above appear, the stage of some patients may no longer be early. Therefore, it is necessary to pay attention to the monitoring of high-risk groups. For example, those with a family history of pancreatic cancer, those who have suffered from chronic pancreatitis, those who have undergone subtotal gastrectomy, and those with sudden diabetes should undergo regular pancreatic cancer screening examinations.
3. Choose the right examination method
Due to the deep anatomical position of the pancreas and the obstruction of the intestinal tube containing air in front, ultrasound examination is easily disturbed. Therefore, the first choice for pancreatic cancer screening is abdominal CT or MR, and the second choice is blood test for CA199 (tumor marker).

V. How to prevent it
The cause of pancreatic cancer is still unclear. Its occurrence may be related to smoking, heavy drinking, excessive high-fat and high-protein diet, environmental factors and genetic factors. Therefore, what we can do in our daily life is to maintain a healthy life and eating habits (no smoking, less drinking). Once the above symptoms appear, seek medical consultion in time.

Prevention methods:
7. Avoid smoking
8. Avoid excessive drinking
9. Control weight, prevent obesity and effectively control diabetes
10. Maintain exercise and good eating habits
11. Seek medical attention as soon as possible if you have suspected symptoms