Aunt Zhang was fiddling with her beloved flowers and plants in her small yard, and her neighbor Uncle Li paced over and sat on a wicker chair next to her. Between the two chatting, Uncle Li said solemnly: "That old Zhao, who has always been strong, was found to have pancreatic cancer, and the doctor said that it has reached an advanced stage. ”
When Aunt Zhang heard this, she was stunned: "Pancreatic cancer? Isn't that the disease known as the 'king of cancer'?" Lao Zhao usually looks very good, how can he say that he will fall down when he falls?" Uncle Li slowly started the topic: "This is the terrible thing about pancreatic cancer, it usually barely shows mountain dew, and once it occurs, it is often at an advanced stage."
I just read an article about pancreatic cancer that is very good at 'camouflage', reminding us to pay attention to four unusual signals in our body. At our age, we really have to be careful. ”
01. Why is pancreatic cancer called the "king of cancer"?
Extremely hidden: The pancreas is located deep in the abdominal cavity and is surrounded by many important blood vessels and organs, and early lesions are difficult to detect by routine physical examination.
Symptoms such as epigastric discomfort, diarrhoea, and mild dyspepsia can easily be confused with gastrointestinal diseases, causing patients to miss the best time for treatment.
Rapid and fatal progression: Once pancreatic cancer is formed, its growth rate and ability to spread are astonishing. Cancer cells often quietly invade adjacent tissues or distant organs before they are discovered, making treatment more difficult, and many patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage.
Limited treatment effect: Pancreatic cancer generally has poor response to radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and even if it is treated with surgery, the overall treatment effect is unsatisfactory due to the particularity of the location of the pancreas and the extremely high risk of surgery, many postoperative complications, and high recurrence rate.
Low survival: The five-year survival rate for patients with pancreatic cancer is extremely low, especially in advanced cases, and survival is often measured in months rather than years. Even patients who are detected early and undergo surgery have a five-year survival rate of less than 10%, which is particularly grim compared to other types of cancer.
High risk of metastasis: Pancreatic cancer cells are highly aggressive and tend to metastasize rapidly through the blood and lymphatic system, making disease control extremely difficult, which is one of the key reasons for their poor treatment response and short survival.
Challenges of physiological location: As an organ with both endocrine and exocrine functions, the physiological location and functional complexity of the pancreas pose great challenges to surgical operations, which are difficult to operate and difficult to recover after surgery.
02. Be wary of the 4 abnormalities that appear in the body
Persistent unexplained diarrhea: Unlike common gastrointestinal complaints, pancreatic cancer can lead to steatorrhea, which is fat malabsorption, which is a pale, heavy, greasy or foamy stool that often floats on the surface and has a foul odor. This is because the pancreas secretes less pancreatic lipase, resulting in malabsorption of nutrients.
Unprovoked fluctuations or elevations in blood sugar: The pancreas is not only responsible for the secretion of digestive enzymes, but can also affect the secretion of insulin, resulting in abnormally high blood sugar levels that are sometimes misdiagnosed as type 2 diabetes.
In particular, if you have no family history of diabetes or obesity and have sudden problems with blood sugar control, you should consider a pancreatic examination.
Persistent discomfort or fullness in the upper abdomen: In the early stages of pancreatic cancer, pancreatic cancer may only present with symptoms similar to dyspepsia, such as vague pain and fullness in the upper abdomen, which may be mistaken for stomach problems. If the stomach examination does not reveal obvious problems, the possibility of pancreatic problems should be further considered.
Unexplained weight loss: Significant weight loss in a short period of time, especially if accompanied by the above symptoms, requires a high level of vigilance. Pancreatic cancer can affect appetite and the body's absorption of nutrients, leading to weight loss, and sometimes even one of the first symptoms to occur in some patients.
03. Measures to prevent pancreatic cancer
Maintain a regular schedule and rest: Arrange work and rest time reasonably, avoid overwork for a long time, and ensure adequate sleep, which will help maintain the stability of physical functions and improve immunity.
Healthy diet: Reducing the intake of high-fat, high-calorie foods, especially fried and smoked foods, increasing the proportion of vegetables, fruits and whole grains, and ensuring adequate intake of vitamins and minerals, especially B vitamins, can help reduce the burden on the pancreas.
Stay away from bad habits: Quitting smoking and limiting alcohol is a key measure to reduce the risk of pancreatic cancer. Tobacco and alcohol are known carcinogens, and long-term use significantly increases the risk of pancreatic cancer.
Moderate exercise to enhance physical fitness: Regular physical activity can help control weight, improve the body's metabolism, and strengthen immunity, and it is recommended to spend at least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity exercise, such as brisk walking, swimming, or cycling.
Psychological adjustment: Long-term stress may increase the risk of disease. Develop a positive attitude towards life and engage in relaxing activities to relieve stress and maintain mental health.
Knowledge and prevention are our strong shields. Living in this rapidly changing era, health has become our most valuable asset. From today onwards, let's integrate these prevention strategies into our daily lives and protect our lives with practical actions.
Note: The content in the article is for reference only Some of the pictures are from the network and the infringement contact is deleted