Pancreatic Cancer – The Silent Killer

Pancreatic cancer  is one of the diseases that has been taking an increasing toll in recent years.

As reported by the World Health Organization (WHO), it is currently the fifth most deadly  cancer , after lung, breast, stomach and colon cancer, but research published in  Science Daily shows that by 2030 it may be second on this infamous list .

This is all the more worrying as pancreatic cancer is initially asymptomatic and not detected early enough. However, it is not worth losing hope, because medicine can boast of new achievements every day, and cancer does not mean a death sentence anymore.

Pancreatic cancer is becoming more and more common

Before we move on to the increasing number of cases of this cancer, there is one fact worth noting. Namely, life expectancy has increased significantly in recent decades. This means that there are more and more people in society at the age at which certain diseases are more likely to develop.

This also applies to pancreatic cancer, which most often affects the population between the ages of 46 and 76. Patients aged 71 constitute the largest group, later the risk of developing the disease continues to increase.

If we add other risk factors to age, including hereditary factors, smoking or pancreatic diseases, this cancer becomes a serious threat.

Regarding these factors, specialists emphasize that the exact causes of pancreatic cancer are still unknown. Among the diagnosed people there are even 40-year-old people leading a healthy lifestyle, without a history of cancer in the family.

Complicated diagnostic process

Doctors also pay attention to the complicated diagnostic process in the case of pancreatic cancer.  It is an organ located deep in the abdominal cavity, which makes it difficult to obtain an accurate picture of it using standard methods.

What’s worse, in the early stages of the disease, pancreatic cancer is asymptomatic. Early diagnosis greatly increases the chance of a full recovery, but the problem is more complex in pancreatic cancer.

What is worth remembering?

Scientists are revealing the results of their work, mainly to increase awareness of the dangers of pancreatic cancer in today’s society.

The greater the awareness, the greater the expenditure on research and treatment, which is especially important if the cancer really takes an ever greater toll.

In the meantime, researchers are also busy trying to eradicate certain conditions from the elderly population, and in increasing numbers of cases it is indeed becoming possible.

It is worth emphasizing that it is impossible to avoid 100% of any type of cancer, but there is a list of good habits that will always have a positive effect on our body.

Here are some healthy habits to incorporate into your life to help protect yourself from conditions such as pancreatic cancer:

• Avoid alcohol and other stimulants such as tobacco.
• Fight overweight and obesity.
• Avoid a sedentary lifestyle. Make sure you exercise regularly every day. Sometimes a simple walk or a few aerobic exercise is enough.

• Pancreatic cancer is much more common in diabetic patients. It is worth bearing this in mind.
• Chronic pancreatitis is an additional risk factor. Take care of regular visits to the doctor and preventive examinations.
• Increase your daily vitamin C intake. Consume plenty of fluids and fresh, antioxidant-rich foods. Also ask your doctor for the recommended vitamin D dosage.
• Avoid fatty, hard-to-digest foods. Replace oil with olive oil. Supplement your diet with easily digestible cereals.

Really worth!