Seven symptoms of pancreatic cancer that rarely get spotted
Pancreatic cancer is a disease with a notoriously low survival rate, with the NHS acknowledging that it "can be difficult to treat"
Health experts have identified seven warning signs of a disease with an alarmingly low survival rate that has been labelled "scary bad" by a prominent medical university. Whilst treatment options for many cancers have improved significantly, pancreatic cancer continues to pose a major challenge, with the NHS confirming it "can be difficult to treat".
Catching the disease early is essential, yet pancreatic cancer is notoriously hard to spot, leading to a survival rate where only 25% of patients live for a year or longer, and just 5% make it past the 10-year mark following diagnosis. Cancer Research UK states that the grim prognosis for pancreatic cancer stems primarily from delayed detection, with the disease frequently being quite progressed by the time it's found.
Just 15% to 20% of patients qualify for surgical removal of the cancer, which provides the greatest opportunity for recovery, reports Gloucestershire Live. The pancreas, a compact organ situated behind the stomach and before the spine, serves a crucial function in breaking down food in the small intestine.
Whilst comparatively uncommon, pancreatic cancer ranks as a top cause of cancer deaths, trailing only lung, colon, and breast cancer. The Medical University of South Carolina has highlighted the significance of identifying the seven principal symptoms of pancreatic cancer, which comprise:
- Jaundice
- Light-coloured stools
- Dark urine
- Pain in the middle or upper abdomen and back
- Weight loss
- Tiredness
- Poor appetite
Experts warn that jaundice - when the skin and whites of the eyes turn yellow - is a key warning sign of the disease, alongside pale-coloured stools and dark-coloured urine. Additional indicators of the cancer include pain in the middle or upper tummy and back, exhaustion, unexplained weight loss, and loss of appetite.
Unfortunately, aside from the initial three symptoms, the remaining signs "are not specific indicators that something is wrong and even these are often late signs of disease," according to MUSC Health. "The diagnosis of pancreatic cancer is difficult and often late. The symptoms are not terribly specific and this is why the diagnosis is often at an advanced stage."
There is hope on the horizon with a new blood marker (GPC1) that could help with earlier detection, though a definitive diagnosis still requires radiological scans or tissue biopsy. People can also take measures to lower their risk of developing pancreatic cancer by making healthier lifestyle choices.
This means limiting alcohol consumption to no more than 14 units weekly, giving up smoking, cutting down on processed and red meat, and keeping to a healthy weight, according to NHS advice.