The pancreas as a 6 inch long organ situated between the stomach and the spinal cord and has two major functions. As the first functions, the pancreas produces juices that assist in the digestion of food. The second function of the pancreas is to release hormones like insulin and glycogen which are responsible for regulating the blood glucose level. ‘Cancer’ or ‘Tumors’ fall into two categories, one of which is of ‘benign’ tumors and the other category comprises of ‘malignant’ tumors. Benign tumors spread only within the tissue that they grow in and do not extend to the surrounding tissue. Malignant tumors however invade the surrounding tissue and rapidly spread around the body.
Pancreatic cancers could take the form of malignant as well as benign tumors. Because of the deep situation of the pancreas inside the human body, the pancreatic cancer is often quite hard to feel. In addition to that, the symptoms of pancreatic cancer are quite few and often do not exhibit themselves until the cancer is big enough to affect the surrounding organs. For this very reason, the cancer of the pancreas is seldom diagnosed in its early stages. Pancreatic tumor mostly occurs in people above 60 years of age. If diagnosed early, the cancer could be surgically removed, but the later the stage of cancer at the time of diagnosis, more intricate would be the treatment. The pancreatic cancer elucidates 3% of all the cancers in the US whereas 7% of the total deaths from cancer in the United States can be attributed to this type of cancer.
In order to prevent this lethal form of cancer, it is important that we first identify the possible causes. The main cause of pancreatic cancer is believed to be smoking. People who exercise the habit of smoking regularly face an increased risk of pancreatic tumor. A recent study in the UK that observes the impact of lifestyles on the likelihood of cancer concluded that about one in every three pancreatic cancers can be linked to smoking. Scientists attribute this to the chemicals present in cigarette called nitrosamines. These chemicals are carcinogenic (Cancer causing) and mostly likely what lead to pancreatic tumor. Quitting smoking could however reduce the risk of this type of cancer, but the decline in the likelihood occurs approximately 20 years after the person quits smoking. Nitrosamines can also be found in some food and drinks.
The second major basis for pancreatic cancer can be attributed to cancer syndromes that run in the family. The most common cause of cancer in the family is the genetic cause. 10% of the people who have pancreatic cancer also have immediate family members who have it. Even though researchers have found a link between genetics and the cancer of the pancreas, no particular gene for pancreatic cancer has so far been identified. Apart from the genetic factors, pancreatic cancer within the family could also result from several other family cancer syndromes. A recent study however shows increased the risk of this type of cancer in people whose father, mother, son or daughter has been diagnosed with the cancer of the pancreas. Also, if the gene for Pancreatitis (a rare disease that results from inflammation on the pancreas) runs in a family, the risk of pancreatic cancer in the members of that family increases 50 times in comparison to the normal population.
Obesity is also one factor that is believed to increase the odds of pancreatic cancer. Obesity is described as a condition where a person has abnormal weight and anomalous amount of body fat. People who fall into the category of obesity face an increased risk of not only cancer but several other diseases including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and high blood pressure. According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey carried out in 2007-2008, 68% of the American population above 20 years of age is obese. Another study in the United States identified 4% of the total cancer cases in men and 7 percent in women associated with people who were obese. Among other classes of tumors, obesity also leads to increased risk of pancreatic tumor. Scientists link the probability of pancreatic cancer to the waist circumference of obese people.
Since the pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal forms of cancer, it is imperative that the way take every step possible in order to reduce the risk. The genetic causes of the cancer of the pancreas are hard to deal with, but it is possible to avoid or quit smoking to reduce the risks. Obesity is also a factor that could be taken care of well with ease. Healthy people should take precautions in order to avoid obesity as far as they can and those who are obese should develop diet and exercise plans in order to get their weight under control. Also, any symptoms that suggest pancreatic cancers should be dealt with at the first possible opportunity. The symptoms of pancreatic cancer among other problems include weight loss, jaundice (yellow skin), dark urine, back and abdominal pain. Also, a new study concluded that people who take aspirin in small amounts over an extended period of about 10 years reduce the risk of pancreatic cancer. Even taking aspirin on a daily basis for three years reduced the chances of cancer by 48%. Aspirin use however has more than a few risks and therefore should not be used as prevention for cancer.
Works Cited
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M.D., Web. Pancreatic Cancer Causes and Risk Factors. 27 March 2014. <http://www.webmd.com/cancer/pancreatic-cancer/causes-pancreatic-cancer>.
Prevention, Centres of Disease control and. Key Statistics from NHANES. 3 December 2013. <http://wwwn.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes/bibliography/key_statistics.aspx>.
Reinberg, Steven. Low-Dose Aspirin May Help Ward Off This Cancer. 26 June 2014. <http://www.webmd.com/cancer/pancreatic-cancer/news/20140626/study-daily-low-dose-aspirin-may-help-ward-off-pancreatic-cancer>.
Society, American Cancer. What are the key statistics about pancreatic cancer? 6 June 2014. <http://www.cancer.org/cancer/pancreaticcancer/detailedguide/pancreatic-cancer-key-statistics>.
UK, Cancer Research. Pancreatic cancer risks and causes. 17 June 2014. <http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/type/pancreatic-cancer/about/pancreatic-cancer-risks-and-causes>.
