Pancreatic cancer is one of the cancers with a poor prognosis to the extent that ‘diagnosis is a death sentence’. Although progression and metastasis are rapid, symptoms appear slowly. The prevalence of pancreatic cancer in Koreans is regarding 13 per 100,000 people, which is not high, and pancreatic cancer is rare before the age of 40. However, the incidence rate increases rapidly following the age of 50, and treatment may be difficult if detection is delayed.
There is still no known way to completely prevent pancreatic cancer. Avoiding risk factors for pancreatic cancer may be the best prevention. The American health website Eat This, Not That secretly explains 5 habits that increase your risk of pancreatic cancer.
1. to smoke
Smoking is the biggest risk factor for pancreatic cancer. It is known that smokers are two to three times more likely to develop pancreatic cancer than non-smokers. According to the American Cancer Society, 20-30% of all pancreatic cancer cases are due to smoking. Although the exact mechanism by which smoking causes pancreatic cancer is unknown, it appears that the carcinogens in tobacco cause damage to the pancreas.
2. Drinking a lot of alcohol
Excessive drinking is the most common cause of chronic pancreatitis, which can easily lead to pancreatic cancer. In particular, the higher the alcohol content, the more stressful the pancreas. If you drink a lot of alcohol, you are more likely to get pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer, so it is good to have regular checkups.
3. Eat processed meat frequently
Another study from Sweden’s Karolinska Institute found that eating one sausage (50 grams) a day increased the risk of pancreatic cancer by 19%, and eating 100 grams of processed meat increased that risk by 38%. Although further investigation is needed, this suggests a link between processed meat and pancreatic cancer.
4. Drinking sweet drinks frequently
Excessive sugar intake can lead to obesity and diabetes, as well as cancer. In particular, sweet drinks contain added sugar to sweeten, and liquid sugar is absorbed more quickly by the body. Be careful because excessive sugar intake can cause problems with pancreatic function.
5. You have a lot of belly fat
Obese people have a greater risk of disease than normal-weight people, and even if they don’t weigh much, if they have a lot of abdominal fat, the risk of cancer increases. A study by the Karolinska Institute in Sweden found that women with excess belly fat had a 70% higher risk of pancreatic cancer. This is because when belly fat builds up, toxins and hormones can be released into vital organs like the liver and pancreas.
Pancreatic cancer patients experience symptoms such as jaundice, weight loss, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, and itching. However, most symptoms appear following the disease has progressed considerably. Regular check-ups are very important if you have risk factors such as the above habits and family history. The best treatment for pancreatic cancer is to detect it early and completely remove the cancer with surgery. Pancreatic cancer is diagnosed through abdominal ultrasonography, CT scan, MRI scan, and tumor marker (CA19-9) test.