As a Consultant in Medical Oncology treating this form of cancer for 13 years at CCC, Dr Olusola Faluyi is aware of some of the misconceptions that are associated with pancreatic cancer and would like to clear up some confusion.
Myth 1: Pancreatic cancer cannot be treated
As a result of the well known poor average survival with pancreatic cancer, one of the biggest myths about pancreatic cancer is that it cannot be treated.
This is false, pancreatic cancer can be treated at its different stages, when patients are fit enough.
The early stage of pancreatic cancer can be treated with surgical options, with the chance of long term survival without recurrence in some.
At the locally advanced stage, surgery as well as chemotherapy and radiation therapy could be applicable. The majority can be controlled for some time on these forms of treatment, with a small minority becoming amenable to potentially curative surgery.
At the more advanced stage with spread around the body (called metastatic); only chemotherapy is possible at present. It is only the last stage which is incurable from the onset.
Even though overall survival remains poor, with the help of these different forms of treatment available, the rate of survival can be increased. Furthermore, many clinical trials are ongoing to potentially improve survival after a pancreatic cancer diagnosis.
Myth 2: It is a fast progressive disease
Pancreatic cancer takes several years to develop into a tumour visible in the pancreas on CT or other scans. It then takes about two further years for the cancer cells to spread into other organs of the body.
Unfortunately, the chance of early detection of pancreatic cancer is lower than for many other types of cancer. Hence, in most cases people do not know that they have pancreatic cancer for some time.
Myth 3: Pancreatic cancer always leads to diabetes
Diabetes can be a common and important association with pancreatic cancer, but it does not always occur.
There have been many cases in which people have developed and been treated for pancreatic cancer without having diabetes. Diabetes develops as a result of inability of the pancreas to secrete adequate insulin levels in the body.
Sometimes, when the whole pancreas is removed to treat pancreatic cancer, patients inevitably become diabetic.
Diabetes can also occur (but does not always occur) with removal of part of the pancreas or damage of part of the pancreas by cancer.
Myth 4: Pancreatic cancer only affects older people
The likelihood of developing pancreatic cancer increases with age, which is its biggest risk factor. The average age at the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer is 72.
However, there is evidence to shows that people of all ages can be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
Furthermore, cases in younger people from 30 onwards are getting more common. Hence, all adults need to be aware of the early warning signs…
Myth 5: There are no signs or symptoms
Whilst some cases may be detected incidentally, there are often signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer.
However, they may seem vague and sometimes look like features of other illnesses, such as:
- indigestion
- mid-back pain
- change in bowel habits
- weight loss
- unexplained fatigue
- or becoming diabetic
If you experience one or more of these symptoms that are persistent and not normal for you, please visit your GP. By increased awareness of the signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer, it can be detected earlier, more people can be treated and more lives can be saved.
