Pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer is a serious disease that develops when abnormal cells in the pancreas grow uncontrollably. It is often diagnosed at an advanced stage because early symptoms can be subtle or absent.

Common symptoms include persistent upper abdominal pain that may radiate to the back, unexplained weight loss, loss of appetite, jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), nausea, fatigue, and new-onset diabetes, especially in older adults.

Risk factors include smoking, obesity, chronic pancreatitis, diabetes, increasing age, a family history of pancreatic cancer, and certain inherited genetic mutations such as BRCA1 and BRCA2.

Diagnosis may involve blood tests (including CA 19-9), contrast-enhanced CT scan, MRI, endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), and biopsy to confirm the diagnosis.

Treatment depends on the stage of the disease and may include surgery (such as the Whipple procedure), chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy in selected cases, and supportive care to improve quality of life.

Maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding smoking, controlling diabetes, and seeking medical evaluation for persistent symptoms may help with early detection. Although pancreatic cancer remains challenging to treat, advances in diagnosis and therapy continue to improve outcomes for many patients.

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