Pancreatic cancer is one of the most difficult cancers to treat since it responds poorly to treatment and spreads swiftly to neighbouring organs. This is why November is so important: to promote awareness about early detection and prevention, as well as to highlight ongoing research that will aid in the discovery of a cure for pancreatic cancer.
The pancreas, a gland positioned behind the stomach and in front of the spine, generates digestive fluids as well as hormones that aid in blood sugar regulation. It is critical for the body to retain and use energy from food after it assists digestion.
The majority of pancreatic cancer cases originate in the
cells that create digestive juices, known as exocrine pancreas cells. These
cells are found in the pancreas's head. Other pancreatic tumours develop in
islet or endocrine cells. Early detection and intervention are the most
effective ways to combat Pancreatic Cancer.
How common is pancreatic cancer? Adenocarcinoma is the most
frequent type of pancreatic cancer. This cancer accounts for only 2% of all
cancers, yet it frequently goes undetected for a long time before causing
symptoms, making early detection difficult. When it is diagnosed, it is
frequently in Stage 3 or 4. It was the third most prevalent cause of
cancer-related death in 2018, but by 2020, it may have surpassed colon cancer
to become the second most common.
A purple ribbon is used
as a tribute to one woman's love for her mother in the fight against pancreatic
cancer. Rose Schneider, whose favourite colour was purple, died after a battle
with pancreatic cancer.
It all started in June 1996, when a woman named Pamela Acosta sat in a hospital room in California, only to hear a doctor tell her mother she had pancreatic cancer.
Acosta began her own search and came onto an internet forum maintained by Johns Hopkins Medical Center, where she met a researcher interested in exploring early detection for pancreatic cancer. Determined to make a difference, she organised the first-ever "An Evening with the Stars" celebrity event, which raised funds for the first-ever pancreatic cancer early detection lab.
There are ongoing research on pancreatic cancer being conducted, ways on how to treat them, or detect them early so better care and management of the cancer can be provided.
Early Detection of pancreatic cancer can be made via special blood tests, diagnostic imaging tools, and other approaches are available to find pancreatic cancer at its early stages before it spreads. These screening approaches are typically conducted on people who have a high risk for this cancer such as those with family history or a known genetic condition that could increase the risk of pancreatic cancer.
Latest research in molecular or genetic studies have opened developments based on identifying damaged genes and proteins and with the advancement of medicine, these damaged genes and proteins are able to be repaired or altered as to how they work. DNA sequencing and mutational analysis are carried out to look for genetic changes. Latest development even include being able to test these mutations in blood samples, allowing analysis of tumour DNA present in blood. Much more is in progress and at the moment in clinical trials waiting to assist with the way pancreatic cancer patients are treated and even detected. More to this are the extensive research made in immunotherapy, gene therapy, cancer stem cell therapy, and even research in how to better manage the palliative care of pancreatic cancer patients.
The ongoing efforts involved in the management of cancer is commendable and we owe it to science and our fellow scientists who their arduous efforts in cancer research.
Words by: MAHSA Communication Department