The silent "killer" is often only discovered when it is too late.

Pancreatic cancer has a very low survival rate, with about 94% of people diagnosed dying within five years, according to Cancer Action.

The pancreas is an organ located in the abdomen just below the stomach. In the pancreas, exocrine cells produce digestive juices, and endocrine cells produce the hormones insulin and glucagon, which determine the body's blood sugar levels.

Pancreatic cancer is a disease that occurs when malignant cells form in the tissues of the pancreas. Most cases of pancreatic cancer arise from endocrine cells.

1. The dangers of pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer is the fourth most deadly cancer after lung, breast and colon cancer. Each year, the disease kills nearly 40,000 Americans.

The dangers of pancreatic cancer don't stop there.

According to the prediction of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, by 2030, this disease will "rise" to the second position among the most dangerous cancers, even more than breast cancer and colon cancer.

Pancreatic cancer has a very low survival rate, with about 94% of people diagnosed dying within five years, according to Cancer Action.

Part of the reason is that the disease has few warning signs, so people often go undiagnosed. Many cases of pancreatic cancer are only discovered when the disease has progressed to the final stages.

However, even if detected early, the survival rate of pancreatic cancer patients is still small. In the early stages, when the tumor is localized in the pancreas and has just reached a size of 2cm or less, the 5-year survival rate is only 14%.

This rate decreases gradually depending on the early to later stages from the time of detection of the disease. In the final stage when the tumor has metastasized to other parts of the body, the patient's 5-year survival rate is only 1%.

In other cancers such as colorectal cancer, breast cancer... early cancer screening and screening bring many chances of survival for patients, but with pancreatic and liver cancer, this screening is almost meaningless.

Pancreatic cancer cells

2. Causes of pancreatic cancer

Although the cause of pancreatic cancer is not clearly identified, scientists have also identified risk factors for pancreatic cancer including:

- Smoking: The leading risk factor for pancreatic cancer. People who smoke for 2 years or more have a much higher risk of developing pancreatic cancer than non-smokers.

- Diabetes, pancreatitis.

- Family history of pancreatic cancer.

- Overweight, obesity.

3. Signs of pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer is considered a silent disease because in the early stages of this disease, patients do not detect anything unusual. Only when the disease has developed and shown signs of metastasis will pain and some of the following symptoms appear:

- Sharp pain:

This symptom usually appears when the disease has entered a severe stage and shows signs of metastasis. The pain often appears in the abdomen and spreads to the back. When you experience sharp pains of unknown cause, you should see a doctor as soon as possible.

- Jaundice:

The cause of jaundice is due to the tumor pressing on the bile duct of the pancreas, causing the bile duct to become blocked, causing yellow skin and eyes. This is the most obvious sign to recognize pancreatic cancer.

- Itchy palms and soles:

Along with jaundice, people with pancreatic cancer will feel itchy in the palms and soles of the feet due to allergic bilirubin pigments.

- Anorexia, weakness, depression:

When the tumor exists in the body for 6-8 months, the patient will no longer feel hungry, and both physical and mental health will decline. If you find yourself in a state of unusual and prolonged loss of appetite, you should go for a health check-up immediately.

According to Alobacsi.vn