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1. PANCREATIC CANCER
PRESENTED BY: JOEL PD RN

2. FACTS

It accounts for about 3 percent of all
cancers, but 7 percent of cancer
deaths.

Pancreatic cancer is difficult to detect
early and it typically spreads rapidly,
affecting other parts of the body. This
is why it is called a silent disease.

3. FACTS

Pancreatic cancer begins in the tissues
of your pancreas, a pear-shaped organ
located behind the lower part of your
stomach.

It almost always occurs after age 45,
although it can affect younger people
as well.

4. FACTS

Pancreatic cancer occurs when a malignant
tumor forms in the pancreas, a small organ
located behind the stomach.

There are several types of cancer of the
pancreas. The most common is pancreatic
adenocarcinoma.

The exact cause of pancreatic cancer is not
yet well understood.

5. RISK FACTORS
 This cancer is rare in younger
people, however this does
not mean than younger
people are safe.
 In women, the rate was 1.0
among those 35 to 39 years
of age as compared to 87.7
among those age 85 and
older.
 The median age at diagnosis
was 71.Increasing age is a
key risk factor, as it is for
many cancers. About 90
percent of patients who
develop this disease are older
than 45 years of age.
AGES

6. RISK FACTORS
 Cancer of the pancreas
is 30 percent more
common in men than
women,the incidence
rate (per 100,000 people)
was 13.6 for men and
10.5 for women.
 In fact, men are more
likely than women to
develop this cancer at
every age after 35 years.
GENDER

7. RISK FACTORS
 The lowest incidence
rates are found in Asian-
Americans/Pacific
Islanders.
 The incidence and
mortality rates are the
highest among African-
Americans. In fact, the
incidence rates are
higher in African-
Americans at every age.
RACE

8. RISK FACTORS
 First-degree relatives mean a
parent, brother, or sister. The
risk is even greater if multiple
family members are affected.
 The risk of developing this
deadly cancer increases if
you have a family history of it.
This risk is higher for people
with a first-degree relative
diagnosed with pancreatic
cancer before age 50.
FAMILY
HISTORY

9. RISK FACTORS
 Obesity also significantly
increases the risk of
pancreatic cancer.
 Study published in the Annals
of Oncology, researchers
analyzed 23 prospective
studies of body mass index
(BMI) and pancreatic cancer
risk with 9,504 cases and
concluded that both general
and abdominal fatness
increase the risk of this
cancer.

10. RISK FACTORS

Excessive smoking is also
linked to higher risk of
pancreatic cancer.
Carcinogens, harmful
compounds found in tobacco
products, cause inflammation
of the pancreas as well as
other damage to the organ.

Moreover, the risk increases
with the number of cigarettes
smoked and duration of
smoking.
EXCESSIVE SMOKING

11. RISK FACTORS

Pancreatic cancer risk is
higher in people who have
diabetes. This risk is even
higher in those who have
had diabetes for more than
5 years.

Common problems
associated with diabetes,
such as high insulin levels,
high blood sugar levels
and inflammation, also
increase cancer risk.
DIABETES

12. RISK FACTORS
 There is also an
association with heavy
alcohol consumption and
higher risk of pancreatic
cancer.
 The risk may be even
higher in people who
smoke as well as drink
heavily.A person is
considered a heavy drinker
if he or she drinks more
than three glasses of any
alcoholic drink a day.
HIGH ALCOHOL INTAKE

13. RISK FACTORS
Pancreatitis
Pancreatitis, which causes inflammation of the pancreas,
can also increase the risk of this deadly cancer. Chronic
pancreatitis is very common in people who drink a lot.
that pancreatitis is a risk factor for pancreatic cancer and
a relatively small proportion of this cancer might be
avoided if pancreatitis could be prevented.
The risk may be higher for people who suffer from
pancreatitis as well as smoke or have diabetes.

14. RISK FACTORS
UNHEALTY DIET
High intake of red meat (beef, lamb and pork)
as well as processed meat (sausage, ham,
bacon, salami and burgers) is another
possible risk factor.
High intake of fried foods and nitrosamines-
containing foods like cheese products and
processed meat may also increase risk of
developing this cancer.

15. REDUCING THE RISK
As experts are not sure exactly what
causes cancer of the pancreas, there is
no sure way to prevent it. However, there
are some ways to reduce your risk of this
disease. There are certain risk factors,
such as smoking and unhealthy diet, that
you can control.

16. REDUCING THE RISK

Stop Smoking
Smoking is one of the most important
avoidable risk factors. By quitting
smoking, you can lower your risk of
developing this cancer to a great extent.
Ask your doctor to help you quit
smoking.

17. REDUCING THE RISK

Maintain a Healthy Weight
If you are overweight, take steps to lose
weight. Opt for a slow and steady weight-loss
goal and be realistic. A weight-loss program
that includes daily exercise, a healthy diet,
smaller portions and sound sleep can help
you lose weight. You can always get help from
experts to develop a realistic plan to achieve
your goal. Those having healthy weight should
work hard to maintain it.

18. REDUCING THE RISK

Do Physical Exercise Daily
Regular physical exercise is good for
your overall health, and it may even cut
your pancreatic cancer risk by helping
you control your weight.

19. REDUCING THE RISK

Choose a Healthy Diet
A diet full of fresh fruits, green vegetables,
whole grains, nuts and seeds may help reduce
your risk of cancer. Also, foods containing
folate are protective against pancreatic
cancer.
Avoid high-calorie and high-fat foods as well
as red and processed meat.

20. REDUCING THE RISK

Drink in Moderation
It’s important to drink in moderation as
excessive alcohol consumption contributes to
tissue damage, leading to several types of
cancer.
Aim to drink no more than two drinks a day if
you are a man and one drink a day if you are a
woman. One drink equals 12 ounces of beer, 5
ounces of table wine or 1½ ounces of 80-proof
hard liquor.

21. REDUCING THE RISK

Regular Health Checkups
It is important to follow any instructions given
by your doctor and especially after age 50.
Although regular health checkups do not
necessarily prevent cancer, they definitely
enable early detection, when it is much easier
to treat.

22. REDUCIING THE RISK

Avoid Exposure to Chemicals
You must also try to avoid exposure to
harmful pesticides and other chemicals in
order to reduce your risk for pancreatic
cancer. Even avoid going to highly polluted
and industrialized areas whenever possible.

23. EARLY WARNIING SIGNS
There are certain early warning signs for
pancreatic cancer, however people often
ignore them because the symptoms are
so nonspecific. Awareness of these early
symptoms can help save many precious
lives.

24. EARLY WARNIING SIGNS
It is common for people with
pancreatic cancer to experience
Jaundice can also cause
itchiness on the hands and feet,
especially the palms and soles.
Any size of tumor located in the
head of the pancreas can lead to
irregular bile flowing from the
gallbladder into the small
intestine. This causes excess
buildup of bilirubin in the blood,
one of the main causes of
jaundice.
JAUNDICE

25. EARLY WARNIING SIGNS
Abdominal as well as back pain
are also common symptoms in
patients with pancreatic cancer.
Usually, the sharp pain is felt in
the upper abdomen, which
gradually radiates toward the
back.
The pain is more severe at night
and that they get slight relief
from the pain by bending
forward. In fact, the location of
the pain is helpful in determining
where a tumor is located.
ABDOMINAL & BACK
PAINS

26. EARLY WARNIING SIGNS
Nausea followed by vomiting
is another sign of pancreatic
cancer. As the tumor grows, it
can experience heartburn and
acid reflux.
As any kind of interference
with normal digestion and
excretion processes can
cause vomiting, all nausea
and vomiting episodes are not
necessarily linked with
cancer.
NAUSEA & VOMITING

27. EARLY WARNIING SIGNS
Weight loss often occurs
when a tumor spreads to
nearby organs and
impairs their functioning.
This affects proper
digestion of nutrients and
also leads to poor
appetite. Also, due to lack
of pancreatic enzymes
aiding digestion.
SUDDEN WEIGHT LOSS

28. EARLY WARNIING SIGNS
Stools of people suffering
from pancreatic cancer have
some distinct characteristics.
The stools may become large,
pale, oily, floating and smelly
as the growing tumor
prevents the pancreas from
releasing its digestive
enzymes. The undigested fat
ultimately ends up in your
stool, making it float or look
greasy. These fatty stools are
difficult to flush away.
GREASY STOOLS

29. EARLY WARNIING SIGNS
Along with changes in your
stools, you may also notice
changes in your urine color,
despite drinking enough fluid
throughout the day. Your urine
may become darker and take
on an orange, amber or brown
shade. If you notice that your
urine has become darker in
color without any dietary
explanation, it is important to
find out the cause behind it.
CHANGES IN URINE COLOR

30. EARLY WARNIING SIGNS
People who have
pancreatic cancer also
notice a sudden drop in
their appetite and a
tendency to feel full after
eating very little Remember,
significant changes in
appetite can make a person
weak and tired, which can
even hinder treatment as
well as recovery.
LOSS OF APPETITE

31. EARLY WARNIING SIGNS
As the pancreas is an integral
part of the digestive system,
the presence of a tumor can
cause several gastrointestinal
symptoms, including bloating,
gas and inflammation in the
abdomen. Bloating and gas
generally develop after eating
a meal and may even be
accompanied by heartburn or
indigestion.
BLOATING

32. EARLY WARNIING SIGNS
General weakness and
fatigue, without any change
in diet and physical activity,
can be an early symptom of
pancreatic cancer. In this
context, fatigue can be due
to the increasing growth of
the tumor itself, lack of
sleep due to pain or other
reasons, and anemia due to
loss of appetite.
CONSTANT FATIGUE
AND
WEAKNESS

33. EARLY WARNIING SIGNS
Diabetes diagnosed very
suddenly with no apparent
reason and without any
family history of the
disease can be a warning
sign of pancreatic cancer. A
tumor can destroy insulin-
making cells in your
pancreas, leading to
diabetes.
SUDDEN UNEXPPLAINED
DIABETES

34. RESOURCES

35. RESOURCES

36. Thank you !