As the calendar turns to November, landmarks across the globe glow purple in observance of Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month. This annual campaign is a critical effort to draw attention to one of the deadliest forms of cancer, often dubbed the “silent killer” due to its notoriously tricky diagnosis and low survival rates.
With the five-year survival rate hovering near 12%, according to the American Cancer Society, experts emphasize that increased awareness, research, and robust support systems are essential in the fight against this disease.
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What is Pancreatic Cancer?
Pancreatic cancer is a disease that begins in the tissues of the pancreas, an organ located behind the stomach that helps with digestion and blood sugar control. It occurs when cells in the pancreas grow uncontrollably, forming a tumor that can spread to nearby organs and other parts of the body. This type of cancer is particularly dangerous because it often doesn’t cause noticeable symptoms in its early stages.
As it progresses, it can lead to abdominal pain, weight loss, jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), fatigue, and digestive problems. Pancreatic cancer can affect a person both physically and emotionally — it can make eating and maintaining energy difficult, impact overall health, and place a heavy emotional strain on patients and their families due to its aggressive nature and challenging treatment process.
Who does it affect?
Pancreatic cancer can affect anyone, but it is most commonly diagnosed in older adults, typically those over the age of 60. It affects both men and women, though men have a slightly higher risk. Certain factors can increase a person’s chances of developing pancreatic cancer, including a family history of the disease, smoking, obesity, chronic pancreatitis, and diabetes.
The Challenge of Diagnosis
Because pancreatic cancer often develops without early symptoms, it is frequently diagnosed at an advanced stage. The most significant barrier to improving survival rates is the lack of accessible, non-invasive screening tools for the general population. Unlike cancers such as breast or colon cancer, there are no routine screening tests for pancreatic cancer unless a person falls into a very high-risk category (e.g., strong family history, certain genetic mutations, or chronic pancreatitis).
Diagnosis typically involves several steps such as:
- Imaging Tests: If a doctor suspects an issue, they will use high-resolution imaging, such as CT scans (Computed Tomography) or MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), to visualize the pancreas and detect tumors.
- Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS): A procedure where a flexible tube with an ultrasound probe is passed through the esophagus and into the small intestine, providing detailed images of the pancreatic tissue.
- Biopsy: The definitive diagnosis requires a biopsy, often performed during an EUS or through a fine-needle aspiration, where a small sample of tissue is removed and examined under a microscope.
- Blood Tests: While not diagnostic on their own, tests looking for elevated levels of the tumor marker CA 19-9 can sometimes correlate with the presence of pancreatic cancer, but this marker can also be raised by non-cancerous conditions.
Treatment Strategies
Treatment for pancreatic cancer is highly personalized and depends heavily on the stage of the cancer when diagnosed.
Some of the treatments used include:
1. Surgery
For the minority of patients whose tumor is localized and has not spread (resectable stage), surgery offers the best chance for cure.
- Whipple Procedure (Pancreatoduodenectomy): This is the most common surgery for tumors in the head of the pancreas. It is a complex operation involving the removal of the head of the pancreas, the gallbladder, part of the small intestine, and the bile duct.
- Distal Pancreatectomy: Used for tumors in the body or tail of the pancreas.
2. Systemic Therapy
For most patients, treatment involves systemic therapies to kill cancer cells throughout the body:
- Chemotherapy: Often used before surgery (neoadjuvant) to shrink the tumor, after surgery (adjuvant) to kill any remaining cells, or as the main treatment for advanced, metastatic cancer.
- Targeted Therapy: Drugs that focus on specific abnormalities within cancer cells, preventing the cells from growing and dividing.
- Immunotherapy: While historically less effective for pancreatic cancer than other tumor types, research is rapidly developing new combination immunotherapies and clinical trials aimed at harnessing the patient’s immune system to fight the disease.
Supporting the fight
Supporting a loved one with pancreatic cancer requires compassion, patience, and understanding. The journey can be physically and emotionally exhausting, so being present and offering consistent support makes a meaningful difference. This can include helping with daily tasks, accompanying them to medical appointments, listening without judgment, and encouraging open communication about their feelings and fears.
Emotional support is just as important as physical care — simple gestures like spending quality time together, sharing memories, or expressing love can bring comfort and strength. It’s also important for caregivers to seek support for themselves, as caring for someone with cancer can be a lot to handle.
As Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month continues, advocates urge everyone to educate themselves on the signs, honor those lost to the disease, and support the critical research needed to turn this silent killer into a treatable condition.