Pancreatic Cancer: The Silent Killer and Its Warning Signs

Pancreatic cancer, often dubbed the “king of cancers,” is notorious for its difficulty in early detection and high mortality rate. This insidious disease claims the lives of many before it is even diagnosed. During a recent health program, a renowned medical expert highlighted the distinct characteristics of abdominal pain associated with pancreatic cancer and emphasized the critical importance of seeking immediate medical evaluation if such symptoms arise.

According to the National Cancer Institute, approximately 66,440 new cases of pancreatic cancer were diagnosed in 2024, with 51,750 deaths occurring in the same period. Pancreatic cancer accounts for 3.3 percent of all new cancer cases in the United States but is responsible for 8.5 percent of all cancer deaths. These alarming statistics underscore the urgency of early detection and awareness.

Recognizing Abdominal Pain in Pancreatic Cancer

The pancreas, located behind the stomach, can cause significant pain when affected by cancer. The major psoas muscle, situated directly behind the pancreas, can be compressed, leading to pain that radiates to the back. Understanding the typical characteristics of this pain can be lifesaving.

• The pain often appears in the retroperitoneal area, similar to stomach pain but deeper, frequently accompanied by a sensation of pain in the back.
• Pressing on the affected area tends to intensify the pain.
• The discomfort worsens when the body is in a vertical position, leading to a tendency to lean forward, with the knees bent and the body curved, which can help relieve pain.
• Pancreatic cancer often develops in the head of the pancreas, near the common biliary canal. When this happens, the pain can radiate to the chest and shoulders.

Other Common Symptoms

The pancreas performs both exocrine and endocrine functions. Its exocrine cells produce digestive enzymes, while its endocrine glands release hormones like insulin to regulate blood sugar. Common symptoms of pancreatic cancer include loss of appetite, rapid weight loss, jaundice, and diabetes.

A 2018 review indicated that over 85 percent of patients with pancreatic cancer suffer from weight loss until the time of diagnosis. A patient weighing over 70 kilograms could lose between 20 and 30 kilograms in just two or three months.

When a tumor at the head of the pancreas compresses the biliary channel or when cancer cells invade it, the biliary secretion can be obstructed. This often leads to symptoms related to jaundice, including yellowing of the skin and eyes, dark tea-colored urine, and itching of the skin.

The Connection Between Diabetes and Pancreatic Cancer

New-onset diabetes is considered one of the warning signs of pancreatic cancer. Acute pancreatitis can cause the pancreas to be affected by its own digestive enzymes, while chronic pancreatitis significantly increases the risk of pancreatic cancer.

The expert emphasized the following dietary recommendations to help lower the risk of pancreatic cancer:

• Limit the intake of carbohydrates and fats. A diet rich in refined carbohydrates and unhealthy fats can contribute to obesity and insulin resistance, both of which are related to an increased risk of pancreatic cancer.
• Avoid cooking methods at high temperatures, such as grilling and deep-frying. These methods can generate carcinogenic compounds, such as heterocyclic amines (HCA) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), which may increase the risk of cancer.
• Avoid pickled and processed foods. While some pickled foods are healthy due to their probiotic content, the traditional pickling or nitrate process can sometimes lead to nitrosamine formation, which are carcinogenic compounds. In addition, some processed foods may also contain these harmful chemicals.
• Be cautious with foods high in sugar, including excessive fruit consumption. Although fruits are generally healthy, consumption in large amounts of sugar-rich fruits can increase blood sugar and insulin, which are associated with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer. Moderation and balancing the consumption of fruit with other nutrient-dense and low-sugar foods are essential.

“We must not live like monks. An occasional indulgent meal is probably all right, but frequent overeating can lead to various health problems,” said the expert.

Risk Factors for Pancreatic Cancer

Smoking is a significant risk factor for pancreatic cancer. Studies show that smokers are twice as likely to develop pancreatic cancer compared to non-smokers. The expert also stressed minimizing exposure to passive smoke, cooking smoke, and incense smoke, even for non-smokers.

According to Cancer Research UK, 70 percent of chronic pancreatitis cases are attributed to excessive long-term alcohol consumption. Chronic pancreatitis is associated with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer.

Stress as a Trigger Factor in Cancer Occurrence

Stress management and maintaining emotional balance are crucial for cancer prevention. A recent case-control study found that patients with pancreatic cancer were significantly more likely to have gone through major stressful events in the last five years, such as the loss of a loved one, divorce, or financial difficulties.

An animal study from 2018 suggested that the connection between stress and pancreatic cancer can be linked to hormones. Stress can overstimulate the sympathetic nervous system, causing an increase in adrenaline release that favors tumor growth.

According to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), emotional stress can lead to energy stagnation and deficient blood circulation in the body, a condition called “stagnation of qi and blood stasis.” This means that tumors are more likely to develop in areas where qi and blood are obstructed.

Recommendations for Pancreatic Cancer Detection

The expert recommends that anyone with suspicious symptoms of pancreatic cancer start with a blood test to check markers such as CA 19-9, a protein often produced by pancreatic tumor cells and released in the blood. Increased levels of CA 19-9 may indicate pancreatic cancer, although they are not specific to the disease and can be increased in other conditions, such as pancreatitis or biliary tract obstruction.

If anomalies are detected, additional imaging tests, such as a computerized ultrasound, may be required to evaluate the pancreas more carefully. However, these single tests are not final for diagnosing pancreatic cancer. The only way to confirm the presence of cancer is a biopsy, which takes a small sample of pancreas tissue and examines it under a microscope to detect cancer cells.