Diabetes is a typical symptom of pancreatic cancer: doctors

According to the 2002 global cancer statistics, pancreatic cancer is the 13th most common cancer in the world. It is the eleventh cancer in India, and among the gastrointestinal tract, it is the sixth largest, after the esophagus, stomach, large intestine, liver and gallbladder. Pancreatic cancer has the lowest survival rate as it rarely shows symptoms during the early stages of treatment.

On the occasion of World Pancreatic Cancer Day, experts emphasize patient awareness and attention to help them fight and survive.

"Pancreatic cancer begins in pancreatic tissues. help manage blood sugar It is located in the abdomen, behind the lower part of the stomach, said Dr. Aditya Shriya, consultant in gastroenterology at Narayana Hospital. "It spreads quickly to neighboring organs. It is rarely detected in its infancy. But the typical symptom is diabetes, especially when it occurs with weight loss, jaundice or pain in the top of the abdomen that spread in the back, "he added. with pancreatic cancer and 1,184 of them die of the disease. "Lifestyle habits such as smoking and drinking put an individual at risk for developing pancreatic cancer," said Dr. Amit Sanghi, a gastroenterologist at Narayana Hospital. "Apart from that, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and chronic pancreatitis are the leading causes of pancreatic cancer. People over 50 are at higher risk than young people, "he added.

Pancreatic cancer, if detected at an early stage, can be treated by a surgical procedure called Whipple. "When cancer is confined to the head of the pancreas, the operation involves removing the pancreatic head, gallbladder and bile duct," said Dr. Manohar Lal Sharma, a gastroenterologist at the University of Toronto. Narayana hospital. "Another procedure involves total pancreatectomy, removal of the pancreas, and removal of distal pancreatitis from the pancreas and spleen. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are given at an advanced stage. Patients with the fourth stage of the disease receive stronger badgesics for back pain and an oral enzyme preparation to treat the lack of pancreatic digestive enzymes, "added Dr. Sharma.