Doctor urges more awareness on pancreatic cancer

The National Health Watch

By ZINA KOIM
THERE is a need for awareness on pancreatic cancer for early detection to prevent deaths in the communities, a doctor says.
Pacific International Hospitals’ (PIH) principal consultant Dr Suresh Raghunath described pancreatic cancer as one of the deadliest in terms of survival and outcomes similar to cancer of the gall bladder and high grade cancers of the Brain.
Raghunath, who is also, head of the Department of Oncology, said the cancer could be cured in stages one to three only but would not be curable in stage four
“And it has a terrible outcome in the advanced and final stages compared to other cancers, which makes it a very important cancer to detect early,” he said.
He said the median survival can range from three months to 24 months depending on the stage of the disease, the performance status of the patient and the comorbidities, which was the presence of other significant medical conditions alongside the cancer.
Causes of it
Smoking, chronic pancreatitis, obesity, diabetes increased carcinogen exposure related to food consumption were high risk factors for pancreatic cancer.
The greater risk factor for pancreatic cancer was a strong family history.
“Pancreatic cancers are familial and dependent on family history of cancers, defined as familial cancer involving at least two affected first degree relatives (FDR) such as parents, offspring or siblings,” he said.
Signs and Symptoms
The following were signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer:

  • LOSS of Appetite;
  • WEIGHT Loss;
  •  YELLOW Eyes;
  • ABDOMINAL Pain;
  •  CLAY coloured or Tarry Stools; and,
  •  INDIGESTION.

Bloating are the warning signs of pancreatic cancer to look out for and report early to a cancer clinic to have a chance at early detection and cure.
In advanced stages, obstruction of the bile ducts causes itching or pruritus.
It is not an easy disease to catch early and requires heightened awareness, personal vigilance and routine screening.
Treatments
Pancreatic cancer would be confirmed diagnostically with a tissue biopsy from the tumour.
“Subsequently, the disease is staged radio logically.
“Chemotherapy, chemo radiation therapy, surgery and palliative care are prescribed in the appropriate modality or sequence by requirement according to the stage of the disease, biology of the histopathology, surgical respectability, the overall general condition of the patient, the position of the tumour on the pancreas, and whether localised or spread to other organs and systems of the body.
“A subset of eligible patients are offered targeted therapies and immunotherapies in pancreatic cancers.
He added the new emerging therapeutic options in pancreatic cancer were stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) and proton beam therapy (PBT) which he said were lucid, emerging options in pancreatic Cancers.
He said PIH has started to offer treatment and that he had seen patients present with that cancer.
“The cost of the treatment is multifactorial and depends on the stage of the disease and the treatment option chosen from the armoury of therapeutic options,” he added.
His encouragement to the public was to look after their health, eat healthy and go for checkups for early detection.