Pancreatic cancer known as 'the silent disease'

With the news of actor Patrick Swayze’s diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, we’re now seeing a spotlight cast on this often fatal disease. This week’s column provides some basic information from the National Cancer Institute about risk factors, symptoms and treatment of pancreatic cancer.

The pancreas is a gland located behind the stomach and in front of the spine. The pancreas produces digestive juices and hormones that regulate blood sugar. The reasons why one person develops pancreatic cancer and another does not are largely unknown. However, according to the National Cancer Institute, research has shown that people with the following risk factors are more likely than others to develop pancreatic cancer:

? Age. Most pancreatic cancers occur in people over 60.

? Smoking. Cigarette smokers are two or three times more likely than nonsmokers to develop pancreatic cancer.

? Diabetes. Pancreatic cancer occurs more often in people who have diabetes than in people who do not.

? Being male. More men than women are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

? Being African American. African Americans are more likely than Asians, Hispanics, or whites to get the disease.

? Family history. The risk for developing pancreatic cancer triples if a person’s mother, father, sister or brother had the disease. Also, a family history of colon or ovarian cancer increases risk of the disease.

? Chronic pancreatitis. Some evidence suggests chronic pancreatitis may increase risk of pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer is sometimes called a “silent disease” because early pancreatic cancer often does not cause symptoms. As the cancer grows, symptoms may include:

? Pain in the upper abdomen or upper back

? Yellow skin and eyes, and dark urine from jaundice

? Weakness

? Loss of appetite

? Nausea and vomiting

? Weight loss

These symptoms are not definitive signs of pancreatic cancer, and only a doctor can diagnose the cause of a person’s symptoms. If a patient has symptoms that suggest pancreatic cancer, the doctor will ask about the patient’s medical history and may perform a number of procedures, such as a physical exam, lab tests, imaging studies or biopsy.

Depending on the type and stage, the cancer may be treated with surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy or a combination of these therapies. At this time, however, pancreatic cancer can be cured only when it is found at an early stage, before it has spread.

Because pancreatic cancer is difficult to control with current treatments, many doctors encourage patients to consider taking part in research studies. Research already has led to advances in treatment methods, and researchers continue to search for more effective approaches to treat it.

? Lynda Metz is the director of community development at Bonner General Hospital. The facts and statistics in this article were provided courtesy of the National Cancer Institute. For more information, visit www.cancer.gov.