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Know The Symptoms For Pancreatic Cancer

The third Thursday of every November is recognized as World Pancreatic Cancer Day. The American Cancer Society notes that in this country in 2022 it is expected that 62,200 people will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and another 49,830 are predicted to die from this type of cancer that causes 7% of all cancer deaths. Although there are usually no symptoms to catch it early, there are some symptoms that when identified mean a trip to your doctor.

The pancreas is an oblong organ located behind the lower part of the stomach. It is an active organ, producing essential digestive enzymes and hormones to regulate glucose metabolism.

There are identifiable symptoms that develop when the cancer in the pancreas is growing. If you notice these, it is important to see your doctor immediately.

  • Yellowing of the skin and whites of eyes
  • Itchy skin
  • A low dull back pain from the pressing of the tumor
  • Dark colored urine
  • Light colored stool
  • Low appetite and no interest in eating
  • Unintentional weight loss from being sick to stomach
  • Development of diabetes - 40% of pancreatic cancer patients are diagnosed with diabetes in the months before the cancer diagnosis
  • Chronic pancreatitis
  • Smoking - researchers estimate that 25% of all pancreatic cancer diagnoses are due to smoking
  • Overweight or obese; excess waistline fat
  • Diabetes not well-controlled

There are risk factors for pancreatic cancer not in our control:

  • Getting older - most people are over 45 years; the average age at diagnosis is 70
  • Gender - it is slightly more common in men
  • Genetic risk

There is ongoing research into other lifestyle habits but researchers are not as yet definitive about their ability to increase our pancreatic cancer risk. These include:

  • Heavy alcohol intake - definitely connected to chronic pancreatitis, a separate risk factor for pancreatic cancer
  • Physical inactivity but we do know that being active helps with two other known risk factors: developing diabetes and being overweight
  • Diet is not a confirmed risk factor but the researchers are looking at intake of red meat, processed meats and sugary drinks as potential factors

More information on pancreatic cancer can be found at www.cancer.org.

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About the Author

Rita Smith is a registered dietitian and has been working in the field of nutrition and disease prevention for more than 35 years and where she worked at Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital in Charlottesville, Va. Each week, Rita provided nutrition counseling to clients who have a variety of disorders or diseases, including high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, celiac disease, irritable bowel syndrome, gastroparesis and weight management. For these clients, food choices can help them manage their health problems.