On the occasion of World Pancreatic Cancer Day (November 19), top specialists from VFN recalled the seriousness and fatality of this oncological diagnosis. Two and a half thousand people fall ill with pancreatic cancer in our country every year, the Czech Republic ranks 3rd in the number of occurrences of this disease. According to forecasts, the situation will probably continue to deteriorate. The highest risk group includes people over 55 years of age with a genetic burden of pancreatic cancer in the family. Therefore, it is necessary to search for these patients in a targeted manner and catch them in time. Genetic testing is indicated for all patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and all immediate relatives are eligible for screening if they have not been tested. Carriers of risky gene mutations should be monitored in specialized clinics. Inclusion in screening programs does not require any recommendation or request form from a doctor, and it is possible to apply directly to the General Faculty Hospital in Prague, specifically to the oncology clinic.
Signals that should alert the patient and alert the practitioner
Sudden onset or worsening diabetes that does not respond to treatment. In up to 50% of cases, it is diabetes that is the first warning sign that there is a risk of cancerous growth in the pancreas. General practitioners should keep this in mind and immediately send the patient to a specialized ambulance for further examinations. Other symptoms may include unexplained and rapid weight loss, abdominal pain that shoots into the back, yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes.
what to do
Do not neglect regular preventive examinations, blood sugar level tests are part of it. If the diabetes cannot be stabilized and you lose weight quickly, contact a diabetologist and ask for further examination. Do you have an oncological diagnosis in your family, or pancreatic cancer directly? Register immediately in VFN for screening. Time is of the essence! With a correctly established diagnosis and appropriately set treatment (surgical, oncological), you have a chance to manage the disease at an early stage of discovery!