THE ESSENTIAL
- In 90% of cases, pancreatic cancer takes the form of ductal adenocarcinoma.
- Smoking is the main risk factor for pancreatic cancer.
Pancreatic cancer usually doesn’t cause symptoms until it’s advanced, especially when the tumor has spread to other organs. However, several signs can alert you to the onset of the disease. We distinguish in particular:
- weight loss;
- loss of appetite;
- digestive disorders;
- unexplained fatigue;
- generalized weakness;
- abdominal and/or back pain;
- jaundice;
- diabetes;
- acute pancreatitis.
These symptoms are not specific to pancreatic cancer and may be associated with other conditions, which is why this pathology is often diagnosed late.
Lower BMI in patients with pancreatic cancer
In a study published in the journal PLOTS One, researchers from the University of Surrey (United Kingdom) and the University of Oxford observed the medical data of 10,000 patients living in England. In particular, they analyzed the known signs of pancreatic cancer such as weight loss, hyperglycemia and diabetes, and examined the period when they appear.
For the purposes of the research, the scientists compared the body mass index (BMI) and HbA1c (for blood sugar) of 9,000 people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and a control group consisting of 35,000 participants who were not affected by this disease.
When diagnosed, the average BMI of patients with pancreatic cancer was three units lower than that of the control group. In some patients, an increase in the level of glucose had been detected three years before the diagnosis.
Pancreatic cancer: a higher risk in diabetics who have lost weight
“We found that dramatic weight loss in people with pancreatic cancer began as early as two years before diagnosis (…) Our analysis found that weight loss in people with diabetes was associated with a higher risk of developing pancreatic cancer than in people without diabetes. Increased blood sugar in people without diabetes was associated with a higher risk of pancreatic cancer than in people with diabetes.” the study authors pointed out.
In the future, British researchers want to develop an algorithm that can integrate information about blood sugar and weight loss to identify pancreatic cancer at an early stage. “Such a tool could be a powerful way to improve early diagnosis and save lives.” they claimed.