Obesity, loss of appetite…beware of these 5 hidden symptoms of pancreatic cancer!

Pancreatic cancer is a silent killer. As its symptoms are not obvious, it is usually in the late stage when discovered. Not only is it often confused with digestive tract diseases, but the 5-year survival rate is only 5%. Therefore, doctors remind people to stay away from risk factors such as smoking and obesity, and pay attention to five hidden symptoms such as loss of appetite. Early detection and early treatment are the best way.

According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare's 2016 cause of death statistics, cancer is still the leading cause of death in the country. Pancreatic cancer has risen from 10th place in 2006 to 8th place in 2016. Among males and females, it ranks 8th and 6th respectively. The median age of death is 70 years old, and the mortality rate is gradually rising.

5 Hidden Symptoms of Pancreatic Cancer

A 73-year-old man surnamed Wu in Kaohsiung felt general fatigue, loss of appetite, weight loss, and dark brown urine for nearly a month. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer while seeking emergency treatment. After evaluation by the doctor, he underwent minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery to remove the cancer. The procedure went smoothly and the patient started eating two days after the surgery. He is currently taking oral chemotherapy drugs for continued follow-up.

Su Wenlong, chief physician of hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery at Kaohsiung Municipal Datong Hospital, who treated the case, said that pancreatic cancer has almost no obvious symptoms in the early stages, and patients will not feel unwell until the late stages, so it is easy to delay seeking medical treatment. But if you have the following 5 hidden symptoms, you must be alert:

1. Poor appetite.

2. Weight loss.

3. Upper abdominal pain or back pain.

4. The urine turns yellow.

5. Vomiting.

Preventing pancreatic cancer

Dr. Su Wenlong emphasized that the pancreas is located in the posterior abdominal cavity of the body and is a silent organ. Regardless of which treatment method is used, the therapeutic effect is very limited, so prevention is still the best way to deal with pancreatic cancer.

1. Traditional open surgical resection: larger wound and slower postoperative recovery.

2. Laparoscopic resection: smaller wound and faster recovery after surgery.

3. Da Vinci minimally invasive surgery: The wound is smaller than laparoscopic surgery and it is a newer surgical method.

4. Radiation therapy: used after surgery to kill remaining cancer cells.

5. Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy alone after surgery is the best adjuvant treatment.

Stay away from pancreatic cancer and pay attention to risk factors

The four common risk factors for pancreatic cancer include smoking, obesity, lack of exercise, and chronic pancreatitis. In addition, heredity is also a factor in pancreatic cancer. According to research statistics, if two first-degree relatives in a family are confirmed to have pancreatic cancer, the risk of other family members developing pancreatic cancer will be 18 times higher than the average person. If three first-degree relatives have pancreatic cancer, the risk will increase to 57 times.

1. Smoking: Nicotine and other carcinogens in cigarettes will affect normal pancreatic cells, causing gene mutations and transforming them into cancer cells, forming cancer.

2. Lack of exercise and obesity: Obesity increases the number of free radicals in the body and causes cell gene mutations.

3. Chronic pancreatitis: This is mainly because the pancreas is constantly inflamed and repaired. During this process, the pancreatic tissue will gradually become fibrotic, and the cells are repeatedly stimulated, which can easily lead to the production of cancer cells and the occurrence of cancer.

【Reminder for preventing pancreatic cancer】:

The dietary principle for preventing pancreatic cancer is to eat low-fat, high-fiber foods rich in vitamins A and C. The most important thing is to have regular health checks so that early detection and early treatment can be achieved. If you experience any of the following physical abnormalities: unexplained abdominal pain, jaundice, or weight loss, you are advised to go to the hepatobiliary and gastroenterology department for an immediate check-up.