The Purple Ribbon - Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month

Pancreatic Cancer Is Often Overlooked- Let’s Fix That

Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, known to many as ‘PCAM’, is marked in November every year – and is the biggest event in the calendar for those committed to taking on pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer awareness month began in the UK in 2011, as it grew from a Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Week devised a few years prior to that– plus similar projects originating in the United States of America.

Pancreatic cancer is the 5th cause of cancer death. With hardly any changes to pancreatic cancer survival rates in the last 50 years, it is clear that there can be no improvement without change. 

November is a month of empowerment, learning, and motivation for communities who have been affected by pancreatic cancer. It is our chance to glow a light on this disease, raise awareness, and encourage others to join. Dr. Shyamali Singhal, surgical oncologist and founder of H&B always uses these kinds of opportunities, as this can be the time to teach the world by sharing our stories, raise money for research, and support patients.

Pancreatic cancer can strike anyone, but outcomes from the disease vary according to socio-economic environment, ethnicity, and age.

As With Most Other Types Of Cancer, Early Detection Is Crucial

There is still much more that can be done in this field of medicine. The obligation to improve pancreatic cancer diagnosis and results is critical.  Early detection can help to save lives. Learn and share the facts, symptoms, and risk factors of pancreatic cancer. Every day, more than 1,257 people worldwide will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. While death rates are decreasing for many other cancers, death rates are sadly rising for pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer begins in the tissues of the pancreas. It’s an organ in the abdomen that lies behind the lower part of the stomach. The pancreas produces and releases enzymes that help digestion and produces hormones that help manage our blood sugar.

The Roles Of Pancreas In Human Organism

Several types of unwanted growths can occur in the pancreas. This includes cancerous and noncancerous tumors. The most prevalent type of cancer that forms in the pancreas starts in the cells that line the tubes that carry digestive enzymes out of the pancreas.

Pancreatic cancer is rarely discovered at its early stages when it's most treatable. This is because it often doesn't cause any noticeable symptoms until after it has settled to other parts of the body.

Pancreatic cancer treatment options are determined based on the size of cancer. Choices may include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or any combination of these.

The pancreas is a hormone-producing organ in the abdomen that sits in front of the spine above the level of the belly button. It operates for two principal purposes:

• The pancreas produces insulin, a hormone that regulates blood sugar levels. 

• The pancreas makes and discharges the intestine digestive enzymes which help break down dietary proteins, fats, and carbohydrates.

The enzymes help digestion by chopping proteins, fats, and carbohydrates into smaller parts so that they can be more easily absorbed by the body and used as building blocks for tissues and for energy. Enzymes leave the pancreas through a system of conduits called "ducts" that join the pancreas to the intestines where the enzymes join with ingested food.

How Pancreatic Cancer Usually Forms

Pancreatic cancer happens when cells in your pancreas develop changes in their DNA. A cell's DNA carries directions that tell a cell what to do in its lifespan. These mutations tell the cells to grow uncontrollably and to remain living after healthy cells would expire. These accumulating cells can form a tumor. When left untreated, the pancreatic cancer cells can reach nearby organs and blood canals.

Most pancreatic cancer begins in the cells that line the ducts of the pancreas. This type of cancer is called pancreatic adenocarcinoma or pancreatic exocrine cancer. Less commonly, cancer can form in the hormone-producing cells or the neuroendocrine cells of the pancreas. These types of cancer are described as pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, islet cell tumors, or pancreatic endocrine cancer.

Risk Factors For Pancreatic Cancer

Factors that may increase your risk of pancreatic cancer include:

• Chronic inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis)

• Family history of genetic syndromes that can increase cancer risk, including a BRCA2 gene mutation, Lynch syndrome, and familial atypical mole-malignant melanoma (FAMMM) syndrome

• Smoking

• Diabetes

• Family history of pancreatic cancer

• Obesity

• Older age

An extensive study demonstrated that the combination of smoking, long-standing diabetes, and a bad diet raises the risk of pancreatic cancer past the risk of any one of these constituents alone.

Can Pancreatic Cancer Be Prevented?

At this time, there is no known monitoring strategy to decrease the risk of pancreatic cancer for the overall population. With only 48,900 new diagnoses a year, screening blood tests or X-rays have never been proven to be cost-effective or useful. Additionally, doctors do not commonly screen individuals with family members diagnosed with pancreatic cancer aside from the rare instance where a known genetic risk factor is present. Some researchers imply vitamin D blood levels above normal may decrease the risk of pancreatic cancer.