Content Sources:
1. Li Ming, Zhou Qiang, Wang Hua. Chinese Journal of Practical Surgery,2020,40(2):150-157
2. Zhang Liang, Liu Yang, Huang Yong. Research progress of targeted therapy for pancreatic cancer[J].Chinese Journal of Clinical Oncology,2019,46(6):302-307.)
3. Chen Gang, Li Wei, Zhang Qian. Chinese Journal of Digestive Surgery,2021,20(1):65-70.
In 2017, Sun Tian, a 42-year-old native of Shaanxi Province, began to feel cramps in his abdomen from time to time, as if he was being held tightly by an invisible hand, and then suddenly let go. At first, he thought it was just an ordinary stomach ache caused by high work pressure and lack of rest, so he didn't pay much attention to it. With his usual toughness, he chose to be patient, hoping that by resting and adjusting his diet, the pain would go away on its own.
However, there has been a noticeable increase in the frequency and intensity of abdominal pain over time. This made Sun Tian have to start paying attention to it, and the advice of his family and his own discomfort drove him into the hospital and began a long road of diagnosis and treatment.
In the next three years, Sun Tian underwent six gastroscopies, various blood tests, and no less than ten ultrasounds. The results of each examination were normal, and the doctor's conclusions were always vague, some said it was functional dyspepsia, and some thought it was gastrointestinal disorder.
So, Sun Tian began long-term drug treatment. But the medication seemed to have only a brief relief from his abdominal pain, which returned periodically, and each time it was more intense than the last.
This repeated pain and constant examination, like an unsolvable puzzle, weighed heavily on Sun Tian's heart. The efficiency of work is decreasing, and the mood is becoming more and more irritable. But life still has to go on, and Sun Tian tries to get his life back on track, despite the pain.
Until the beginning of 2020, Sun Tian's condition ushered in a turning point. One afternoon, Sun Tian's abdominal pain suddenly intensified, almost making him unable to walk upright, and he was rushed to the hospital.
After a series of more in-depth and comprehensive examinations, the doctor finally discovered the real cause of Sun Tian's abdominal pain - pancreatic cancer, which has reached the middle and advanced stages.
The moment he heard the diagnosis, Sun Tian felt a little dazed, he never imagined that he would be approached by pancreatic cancer, which is often called the "king of cancer", and after three years of repeated examinations.
Pancreatic cancer is known as the king of cancers, mainly because of its difficulty in diagnosis, late detection, difficulty in treatment, and poor prognosis. The pancreas is located deep in the abdomen, and its early lesions are often difficult to detect, so most patients have missed the optimal time for treatment by the time they are diagnosed.
In addition, symptoms of pancreatic cancer, such as abdominal pain, weight loss, and jaundice, are non-specific, and these symptoms usually appear in the later stages of the disease. The combination of these factors results in a low five-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer patients, which is only about 5%-10%.
Treatment of pancreatic cancer includes surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and targeted therapy, but the treatment effect is not satisfactory because many patients have reached an advanced stage at the time of diagnosis and have lost the opportunity for surgery. The unique biology of pancreatic cancer also makes it less responsive to conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy. In recent years, although there have been some advances in targeted drugs and immunotherapies targeting specific molecular markers, the overall cure rate is still low.
The highly aggressive and early metastatic nature of pancreatic cancer is another important reason why it is difficult to treat. It can quickly spread through the blood vessels and lymphatic system to other organs in the body, such as the liver, lungs, and peritoneum. Early metastasis greatly reduces the success rate of treatment and patient survival.
In the face of such a blow, Sun Tian and his family fell into extreme shock and panic. Pancreatic cancer is difficult to detect because the early symptoms are not obvious, and it is usually found in the middle and advanced stages, which is extremely difficult to treat and the survival rate is relatively low.
After discovering the truth of the condition, Sun Tian experienced from despair to acceptance, but he didn't expect that pancreatic cancer would be so hidden, and he couldn't find out the culprit after many examinations.
Regarding his confusion, the doctor said that many pancreatic cancer patients will ask this question when they are diagnosed, and the most important thing is that they ignore these three early symptoms.
Pancreatic cancer is a malignant tumor that occurs in pancreatic tissue, and early detection is essential to improve patient survival. Since the pancreas is located deep in the abdomen, the symptoms of early pancreatic cancer are often not obvious, which brings certain difficulties to early diagnosis. However, it is important to understand and pay attention to the possible symptoms of pancreatic cancer in the early stages for timely detection and treatment of pancreatic cancer.
1. Indigestion and abdominal discomfort: Patients with pancreatic cancer may experience persistent indigestion problems in the early stages, including abdominal discomfort, bloating, nausea, or vomiting. The pancreas plays an important digestive function, secreting enzymes that can help digest food. When tumors affect the function of the pancreas, it can cause digestive symptoms. It is important to note that these symptoms are not the only ones pointing to pancreatic cancer and may also be associated with other digestive disorders.
2. Jaundice: Jaundice is one of the more typical early symptoms of pancreatic cancer, especially when the tumor is located in the head of the pancreas. Jaundice is mainly characterized by a yellow appearance of the skin and eyes, and this is because the bile ducts are blocked by tumors, causing bilirubin to accumulate in the blood.
Bilirubin is a normal product of the breakdown of red blood cells, which is normally processed by the liver and excreted with bile. In addition to yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes, jaundice may also be accompanied by dark urine, light-colored or greasy stools, and itchy skin.
3. Weight loss and loss of appetite for no apparent reason: Sudden weight loss and decreased interest in food, and this change cannot be explained by changes in eating habits or lifestyle, and can also be an early sign of pancreatic cancer. The growth of the tumor may affect the digestion of food and the absorption of nutrients, leading to weight loss. At the same time, persistent pain and discomfort may also affect appetite.
In addition to the above three symptoms, pancreatic cancer can also cause problems such as back pain, fatigue, new diabetes, or becoming more difficult to manage existing diabetes. It is important to emphasize that because these early symptoms are not specific, similar symptoms may also occur in other, more common conditions. Therefore, when the above symptoms are present, it does not mean that it is necessarily pancreatic cancer, but it is an important signal to go to the hospital for further examination.
In conclusion, since the symptoms of pancreatic cancer are not obvious in the early stage, it is very important to improve self-awareness for early diagnosis. If there is persistent discomfort, especially when the above symptoms appear without an obvious cause, you should seek medical attention in time for professional examination and necessary imaging evaluation so that pancreatic cancer or other possible health problems can be detected and treated as soon as possible. Early diagnosis and treatment are key to improving the survival rate and quality of life of pancreatic cancer patients.