Pancreatic cancer usually causes very few symptoms until it has spread and metastasized. It is ranked among the most common cancers with the highest death rates.
Symptoms of pancreatic cancer
In Vietnam, pancreatic cancer is not among the 10 most common cancers in men and women. However, it is a cancer with a high death rate, usually detected at an advanced stage. Globally, pancreatic cancer ranks 7th among cancers with the highest death rate.
Among all types of cancer, the cause of pancreatic cancer remains a mystery to scientists. However, experts have confirmed several risk factors. According to Webmd, these factors are more common in people with pancreatic cancer than in people without the disease.
What is pancreatic cancer?
Pancreatic cancer occurs when cells in the pancreas, an organ behind the stomach, start to grow out of control and form a tumor. Cancer cells have the ability to invade other parts of the body.
There are several types of pancreatic cancer. The most common type, adenocarcinoma, accounts for about 85% of cases, and the term “pancreatic cancer” is sometimes used only to refer to this type.
Adenocarcinoma begins in the part of the pancreas that produces digestive enzymes. Several other types of cancer, which constitute the majority of non-carcinomas, can also originate from these cells. One to two per hundred cases of pancreatic cancer are neuroendocrine tumors,
originate from hormone-producing cells in the pancreas. These tumors are generally less invasive than pancreatic carcinoma.
Uncomfortable
5-10% of people with pancreatic cancer have a family history – someone close to them has had this cancer. Several other genes may also increase the risk of disease, the scientists said, but they have yet to identify it.
Diabetes
People with diabetes are not necessarily more susceptible to pancreatic cancer, but the two conditions are related.
Cigarette
Smoking is a factor that increases the risk of pancreatic cancer. The more you smoke, the higher the risk. Ten years after quitting, this risk returns to normal like those who have never smoked.
Obesity and inactivity
In a study of 88,000 nurses, people who are overweight or obese (BMI over 30) are at greater risk of pancreatic cancer. Physically active people also reduce the risk by half compared to those who are inactive.
Diet
Diets high in fat and meat (especially processed meat or bacon) have been shown to be linked to pancreatic cancer in animals. Therefore, a diet rich in fruits and vegetables helps reduce the risk of this dangerous cancer. However, there are also opinions that the link between diet and this disease is not really clear.
Lycopene and selenium
Studies show that the content of these nutrients is very low in people with pancreatic cancer. However, there is no clear evidence that lycopene and selenium deficiency can lead to pancreatic cancer. A diet containing meat and yellow or red vegetables can provide your body with the necessary amount of lycopene and selenium.
Removing the risk factors for pancreatic cancer will not completely reduce your risk. However, a healthy diet, a healthy weight, and regular physical activity will help improve overall health and lower the risk of other health problems, including pancreatic cancer.
