最近失去亚历克斯·触摸胰腺癌的丧失造成了对疾病的更新和提高意识。Pancreatic canceraccounts for7% of all cancers, but it is the第四个癌症死因每年在美国，稳步增加。
“Pancreatic cancer is a form of cancer that forms in the pancreas, a thin, pear-shaped gland that sits behind the stomach and is responsible for digestion and blood sugar regulation,” saidTomislav Dragovich, MD, a gastrointestinal medical oncologist withBanner MD Anderson Cancer Centerin Arizona. “It is an area that is difficult to access and visualize, unlike the colon or breast, which are easier to examine and see.”
While most people know someone who has been affected by cancer, awareness of pancreatic cancer is low, and it’s often misunderstood.
Here are five facts everyone should know about the disease.
1. We Don’t Know the Cause
大多数胰腺癌都是零星的，这意味着他们发生了，我们不知道为什么。但是，估计10% of pancreatic cancersare connected to genetic causes.
“There is a realization that a significant number of patients with pancreatic cancer carry genes that may put them at greater risk for this disease and possible other cancers as well,” Dr. Dragovich said. “This is why we recommend genetic counseling and testing for all newly diagnosed patients with pancreatic cancer.”
While we don’t know all the causes for pancreatic cancer, we do know some of the risk factors associated with it. These include:
- Two or more first-degree relatives who’ve had it
- A first-degree relative who developed pancreatic cancer before age 50
- 遗传综合征
- Diabetes
- Chronic pancreatitis
- Ethnicity: Black/African American men and women and Ashkenazi Jews
- Diet
- Obesity
- Being over the age of 60
2. There Are Different Types of Pancreatic Cancer
胰腺肿瘤可以是外分泌或神经内分泌。最常见的（和最严重的）胰腺癌是腺癌，从外分泌细胞发展。预后的常见且更有利是胰腺的神经内分泌肿瘤（PNET）。其他，罕见的类型包括胰腺淋巴瘤和胰腺。
Knowing the type of tumor is important, because each type acts differently and responds to different treatments.
3.症状很难确定
Often, the symptoms of pancreatic cancer are difficult to recognize. These include back pain and abdominal pain, weight loss, jaundice, nausea and new onset diabetes, but these symptoms could also suggest other medical issues.
“Unfortunately, early pancreatic cancer symptoms are not easily recognized because they are not very specific,” said迈克尔查蒂, MD, division chief of surgery withBanner MD Anderson Cancer Centerin Arizona. “Weight loss can be attributed to many different causes and back pain (a notable sign of pancreatic cancer) is more commonly attributed to back problems or arthritis. Jaundice, while easily recognized, is usually a sign of already advanced cancer.”
4.很难提前诊断
胰腺癌不仅难以识别，也没有筛选早期检测筛查。大多数通常在高级阶段被诊断出来。
If the cancer is diagnosed early, patients may be eligible for surgery, but Dr. Choti said only 1 of 4 newly diagnosed pancreatic cancers is operable.
5. Research and Clinical Trials Are Crucial
The more we know about pancreatic cancer, the better equipped we will be to find ways to catch it and treat it early and dramatically improve survival.临床试验are necessary to determine whether new treatments developed in the laboratory are benefiting those living with pancreatic cancer.
“Pancreatic cancer is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage and chances of a cure are low, even in patients that are candidates for surgery,” Dr. Dragovich said. “This emphasizes the need to always consider new therapies offered through clinical trials for each and every patient diagnosed with this disease.”
想要了解更多关于胰腺癌, your潜在的危险因素和治疗方案, visit Banner MD Anderson atbannerhealth.com.
For related information, check out this article:Diabetes and Pancreatic Cancer: Is There a Connection?
