Only about three percent of all cancers in Germany affect the pancreas, but this type of cancer is particularly malignant. This is how pancreatic cancer becomes noticeable.
- Pancreatic cancer is relatively rare in Germany.
- However, in most cases it ends in death.
- What you should keep in mind to reduce your risk.
Pancreatic cancer is one of the more rare cancers in Germany. As reported by the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), around 18,600 people fell ill with pancreatic cancer (medical pancreatic cancer) in 2016. In contrast to breast cancer or prostate cancer, the chances of survival for this type of cancer are extremely low: Most patients with pancreatic cancer die. The relative five-year survival rate is extremely unfavorable, as the RKI reports. In Germany, it is nine percent for both genders. Pancreatic carcinoma is one of the lowest survival cancers alongside breast cancer.
The reason for this is that tumors of the pancreas are often only recognized very late because they show no or only very non-specific symptoms in the early stages.
These symptoms speak for pancreatic cancer
While pancreatic cancer is not fully understood, there are a few factors that can contribute to the development. This includes smoking and secondhand smoke as well as excessive alcohol consumption * . According to the current state of knowledge, however, nutrition and genetic factors also play a role, as reported by the German Cancer Society.
The fatal thing about pancreatic cancer : There has been no early diagnosis . All the examinations in question would be too time-consuming and stressful for people without health problems, or not accurate enough, as the cancer information service reported. If the cancer were recognized early, the chances of a cure would be better than in the final stage. However, this is the problem: Symptoms usually only appear when the pancreatic tumor has become so large that it hinders the production of digestive enzymes or their outflow into the duodenum, or when it already affects other organs such as the stomach, duodenum, liver or peritoneum has spread, as reported by the German Cancer Society.
The following symptoms can indicate pancreatic cancer :
- Nausea and vomiting
- loss of appetite
- indigestion
- weight loss
- Feeling of pressure in the upper abdomen
- Diabetes * mellitus
- jaundice
- back pain
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Read also : If you observe these symptoms in themselves, your pancreas is at risk .
How to reduce your risk of developing pancreatic cancer
If symptoms appear, the cancer is usually already well advanced, which means that the chances of recovery are waning. As there is no suitable early screening for pancreatic cancer, the Cancer Information Service recommends avoiding smoking, drinking alcohol in moderation, exercising regularly and maintaining a normal weight * .
If in a family at least two close relatives such as children, parents or siblings are suffering from pancreatic cancer , advice from a specialized center would make sense, as the cancer information service advises.
Survey on the subject
Sources : www.krebsinformationsdienst.de ; www.krebsgesellschaft.de ; www.krebsdaten.de
* merkur.de is part of the nationwide Ippen-Digital editors network .
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