That may be the case for many forms of cancer, but pancreatic isn’t among them. Pancreatic cancer is often diagnosed in later stages of the disease, making it difficult to effectively treat. In many cases the cancer has already begun to spread to other parts of the body by the time a diagnosis is made.
Why is this type of cancer so difficult to pinpoint in its earlier stages? Why don’t more patients seek medical help sooner? What can be done to help people more proactively monitor their health and identify telltale signs of this dangerous disease?
The problem with pancreatic cancer is that is can be rather quiet in its initial growth stages. It may not cause any truly concerning symptoms or pain that would send most people in search of medical advice. In fact, by the time pancreatic cancer rears its ugly head, it has likely already grown outside of its organ of origin.
In some cases, pancreatic cancer may be detectible sooner via signs and symptoms if it begins in the head of the pancreas rather than the body or tail of the organ. However, there is no guarantee as to when or how symptoms will manifest themselves in each case.
Awareness is a key factor in being proactive with your health. If you have a history of pancreatic cancer in your family, you should be especially vigilant for any early warning signs of the disease. Even with no family history, everyone can benefit from the knowledge of what pancreatic cancer symptoms look like.