Symptoms of pancreatic cancer can be easily missed. This is also why more than 60% of cases of the disease are only diagnosed in the fourth stage. This was pointed out by the Ministry of Health (MOH) of the Slovak Republic. It made it clear that cancer can be manifested by dull pain in the upper part of the abdomen radiating to the back, nausea, diarrhea, light-colored stools or dark urine.
“As cancer grows and spreads, it can make itself known through weight loss, malaise and loss of appetite, increased sugar levels, jaundice, itchy skin all over the body,” added the department on the social network. He estimated that approximately 1,000 new cases will be added in Slovakia every year and more than 900 patients will succumb to the disease.
The incidence of pancreatic cancer rises after the age of 50. “Although medicine is advancing, we still do not know a reliable test for the early detection of pancreatic cancer, nor the exact causes of its development. However, several risk factors have been identified that may contribute to the development of the disease.” noted the ministry.
These factors include smoking, obesity, excessive alcohol intake, high saturated fat intake, low fruit and vegetable intake, history of diabetes, inflammation of the pancreas, and genetic mutationse.g. in the BRCA gene.
