Pancreatic cancer is the tenth most common cancer in the United States. However, it is the third most common cause of cancer-related death because it is often in an advanced stage at the time of diagnosis.
Knowing the risk factors and symptoms of pancreatic cancer can help make a diagnosis as early as possible. Here’s what you need to know about the different types of pancreatic cancer, symptoms, and ways to reduce your risk of the disease.
What is pancreatic cancer?
Pancreatic cancer occurs when a tumor develops somewhere in the pancreas, a gland between the abdomen and spine. The pancreas produces enzymes that help your body digest food and produces hormones to balance blood sugar levels. When abnormal cells in the pancreas get out of control, they can form a tumor.
Are there different types of pancreatic cancer?
Yes. Pancreatic cancer is either exocrine or neuroendocrine, depending on where the cancer cells originated.
Most pancreatic cancers are exocrine – cancer in the exocrine cells that make up the glands and ducts that help digest food.
About 9.5 out of 10 exocrine cancers begin in the pancreatic ducts and are called pancreatic adenocarcinomas.
Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs), also called islet cell tumors, form in the cells of the pancreas that produce hormones to control blood sugar levels. They typically grow more slowly than exocrine cancers. There are a number of subtypes of this type of tumor.
What are the most common symptoms of pancreatic cancer?
People with pancreatic cancer usually have no symptoms in the early stages of the disease, so diagnosis can be difficult.
Symptoms of later-stage pancreatic cancer may include:
- Pain that starts in the stomach and spreads to the side or back
- Loss of appetite
- Lose weight without trying
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), which sometimes causes itching
- Pale or floating feces
- Dark urine
- New diagnosis of diabetes or diabetes that is becoming increasingly difficult to control
- Pain and swelling in an arm or leg, which may be caused by a blood clot
- Feel tired or weak
How is pancreatic cancer diagnosed?
Because early-stage pancreatic cancer usually has no symptoms, diagnosis can be difficult. The pancreas is located deep in the body, making it difficult to detect a tumor during a regular physical exam.
There is no single test for pancreatic cancer. Your healthcare provider will likely first take your medical history, ask about the symptoms you are experiencing, and perform a physical examination.
Imaging tests are usually done next to get a look inside your body. These tests may include:
- Computed tomography (CT) scan
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Ultrasonic
- Cholangiopancreatography
- Positron emission tomography (PET) scan
Blood tests and biopsies (surgery to remove and examine part of the tumor) may also be needed to confirm a diagnosis, determine the stage of the cancer, and recommend treatment options.
Can you reduce your risk of developing pancreatic cancer?
Some risk factors for developing cancer may be beyond your control, such as: E.g. family history, certain genetic mutations, black or Ashkenazi Jews, or age over 60 years.
Certain health conditions also increase your risk, such as:
- Chronic pancreatitis
- obesity
- Inflammation of the gums
You may be able to reduce your risk by making lifestyle changes that also have a positive impact on your overall health:
- Don’t smoke. The risk of developing pancreatic cancer is twice as high for smokers as for people who have never smoked.
- Try to control your weight. Excess fat in the stomach increases the risk of pancreatic cancer.
- Eat a nutritious, balanced diet with little red and processed meat.
- Avoid alcohol or limit alcohol consumption to one drink per day.
- Try to reduce your exposure to certain chemicals and heavy metals like asbestos. If you cannot reduce your exposure, wear protective equipment such as masks and gloves when handling these chemicals.
- Talk to your doctor about how to deal with precancerous growths or cysts in your pancreas.
This educational resource was created with support from Merck.
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