The other day I received an email from a neighbor in which she forwarded an email she received from her doctor on a test for pancreatic cancer. One year ago the neighbor’s good friend lost her life to pancreatic cancer — if only the test had been available at the first sign of discomfort.
I’m sharing the doctor’s email because: (1) my neighbor cared enough to share it with her friends; (2) I’m impressed that her doctor took the time to send this important information to his patients; (3) we all need to watch for the symptoms.
kenne
******
Dear
I would like to share the latest information on a cancer that until very recently could only be discovered in its latest stages. Last year more than 43,000 people were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and 36,800 died from it. The prognosis is often not optimistic because diagnoses occur in the latter stages of the disease. Unlike breast, prostate and colon cancers that have early-detection screenings which can discover the disease before symptoms appear, pancreatic cancer did not, until now.
In an effort to improve survival rates, Mayo Clinic researchers identified a couple of pancreatic cancer markers consistent with stool samples of pancreatic cancer patients. This led to the development of a non-invasive, stool sample home test that can detect pancreatic cancer at any stage and location of the pancreas. The screening was presented at a recent scientific conference and awaits FDA approval. Researchers are hoping that these findings lead to additional early detection methods, as well as effective stool screenings for all gastrointestinal cancers.
The risk of developing pancreatic cancer increases with age as the average age of diagnosis is 72. Men have a slightly higher risk of pancreatic cancer than women and African Americans are more likely to suffer from it than Caucasian Americans. Genetics, family history, diabetes and cirrhosis of the liver contribute to the risks as do occupational exposures to certain pesticides, dyes and chemicals. However, the biggest risks are lifestyle-related. Cigarette smoking, especially in conjunction with chronic pancreatitis, obesity, sedentary lifestyle and excessive alcohol intake all increase the risk. If you have one of these risks or begin experiencing symptoms like jaundice, abdominal or back pain, weight loss and/or digestive problems, make an appointment so we can talk about it. You can also learn more by visitinghttp://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/pancreatic.
Share the knowledge by forwarding this information to your loved ones, especially those who may be at risk for cancer.
Healthy regards,
Michael Finkelstein, MD
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