More patients with pancreatic cancer

Dangerous pancreatic carcinoma affects more and more people

01/22/2015

More and more people are suffering from pancreatic cancer, a treacherous disease that often runs long symptomless and is therefore often discovered too late. Accordingly, experts repeatedly advise on new treatment methods and possibilities of early detection, in order to be able to significantly improve the chances of recovery in the future and thus the survival rate.

17,000 new cases in 2014
The number of cases of pancreatic cancer (pancreatic cancer) continues to increase from the perspective of experts. Last year alone, around 17,000 new cases were registered, reports Robert Jaster, research laboratory director at the University Department of Internal Medicine in Rostock to the news agency „dpa“. Jaster is also the leader of the 35th German Pancreatic Club, which takes place from January 22nd to 24th in Warnemünde.

Increased risk of smoking, alcohol and obesity
According to recent studies, the death rate for this tumor has risen from 7.6 to 8.0 in men since 2000, and from 5.0 to 5.6 per 100,000 in women. The causes of the development of pancreatic cancer are not yet known, but according to Jaster, this development could be linked to increased life expectancy. In addition, there would be risk factors such as smoking, alcohol and adiposity, which favor the development of pancreatic carcinoma. In addition, according to the German Cancer Society e.V., there is an increased risk of pancreatic cancer, especially in people who suffer from hereditary pancreatitis. This is based on a genetic defect that can be inherited within families, whereby affected persons would develop, according to the society up to the age of 70 in up to 40 percent of cases, a pancreatic cancer.

Prognosis in most cases unfavorable despite medical progress
Although pancreatic cancer is in tenth place in terms of incidence, it is still the cancer that leads to death four times, according to Bettina Rau, who works as senior consultant at the Rostock Surgical University and heads the 35th pancreatic club together with Jaster. „The pancreatic cancer is one of the hardest to be operated tumors, "said the expert further to the „dpa“. Accordingly, it remains mostly despite medical advances and the latest technology „in a rather unfavorable prognosis“.

Illness often goes on for a long time without clear symptoms
Particularly problematic in pancreatic cancer is that the disease often runs for a long time without any symptoms, which makes it often (late) discovered. As a result, the tumor is usually already well advanced, also he sprinkle loud Rau early and be aggressive. Accordingly, the pancreatic surgery a „High-risk surgery“ According to the medical experts, this should only be done by experienced specialists. In addition, complaints are often ambiguous, the first symptoms may be, for example, lack of appetite, weakness, nausea and vomiting or diarrhea. Accordingly, no risk should be taken in case of suspicion and on recommendation of the Cancer Information Service, especially for longer and at night persistent back and upper abdominal pain, persistent nausea, indigestion, or conspicuous weight loss urgently consulted a doctor.

Improved treatment options for pancreatitis
Unlike the treatment of pancreatic carcinoma, however, the options for treating both acute and chronic pancreatitis (pancreatitis) have improved, according to Jaster. The mostly associated with very severe pain acute form is usually due to a gallstone disease or alcohol abuse and take in about 20 percent of those affected a very severe to fatal course. „This is a very high death rate for a benign disease, "said Rau. For Chronic Pancreatitis is primarily a year-long increase in alcohol consumption responsible, with many sufferers would be unaware of their disease for a long time, because this begins according to the experts creeping and Only progressively develop complaints such as increasing upper abdominal pain, distended abdomen, weight loss, fat, diarrhea or the development of diabetes mellitus. (nr)