Many cancers signal their presence with noticeable warning signs, but pancreatic cancer often operates in stealth. It’s notoriously difficult to find early, as symptoms frequently don’t appear until the disease has progressed. As a result, treatment is more complicated.
So, what causes pancreatic cancer to remain hidden for so long? Factors like the organ’s deep anatomical location, the general absence of early symptoms and limitations in routine screening methods all contribute. By understanding these challenges and identifying key risk factors, you can be better equipped to advocate for your health and know when to talk to your doctor.
What Causes Pancreatic Cancer?
Pancreatic cancer starts when abnormal cells form in the pancreas, a small organ located behind the stomach. The pancreas makes insulin, which helps control blood sugar, and enzymes that help break down food.
There are two main types of pancreatic tumors:
- Exocrine tumors begin in the cells that help with digestion. These are the most common type.
- Neuroendocrine tumors begin in hormone-producing cells. These are much less common.
Doctors don’t know what causes these cells to grow out of control, but a mix of genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors can play a role.
3 Reasons Pancreatic Cancer Often Goes Undetected
1. There Are Few or No Early Symptoms
Both types of pancreatic cancer can grow and spread without causing symptoms until the disease becomes advanced. When symptoms appear, they tend to be vague, like stomach pain, indigestion or tiredness. These symptoms can be caused by many other conditions and are easy to overlook.
Some people notice unexpected weight loss or a change in appetite, but these symptoms can also seem minor.
2. Your Pancreas Is Somewhat Hidden
The pancreas is located deep inside the abdomen (belly), and doctors have a hard time feeling a tumor during a routine checkup. Combined with the lack of other symptoms, not being able to feel lumps or abnormalities in the pancreas can make pancreatic cancer easy to miss.
Depending on where the tumor grows in the pancreas, such as in the “tail” rather than the “head,” pancreatic tumors may not affect nearby organs or systems until they’re larger.
3. There’s No Routine Screening Test
Most cancers that can be found early—like colon, breast and cervical cancers—have screening tests that healthy people can undergo regularly. Although pancreatic cancer screenings exist, they aren’t used unless a person has known risk factors or develops symptoms (which usually appear in later stages of the disease).
As a result, many cases of pancreatic cancer are only discovered when the cancer has already spread.
Risk Factors for Pancreatic Cancer
Some people have an increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer based on their medical history or family background, and those risk factors aren’t always within your control. However, lifestyle factors—which you can control—can also play a role.
It’s important to note that having one risk factor doesn’t mean you will get cancer, but the more risk factors you have, the more important it is to be aware of the warning signs and talk to a doctor about your risk.
Unchangeable Risks
- Age: The risk of pancreatic cancer increases over age 60.
- Family history: Having a parent or sibling with pancreatic cancer may increase the chances that you will get it, as well.
- Genetic conditions: These are conditions you inherit from your parents. They usually affect specific genes, causing changes or defects that can lead to pancreatic cancer.
- Sex: Pancreatic cancer affects men at slightly higher rates than women.
- Race: Black people have a slightly higher risk of pancreatic cancer than white people.
Lifestyle-Related Risks
- Chronic pancreatitis: Chronic pancreatitis, a condition that causes long-term inflammation of the pancreas, can be genetic, but it’s often linked to smoking and excess alcohol consumption. Having it increases the risk of pancreatic cancer.
- Diabetes: Having Type 2 diabetes can increase your risk, although doctors aren’t sure why.
- Excess weight: Having a body mass index of 30 or higher, which is classified as obesity, makes someone 20% more likely to get pancreatic cancer.
- Smoking: Smoking can almost double your risk of pancreatic cancer. It’s one of the condition’s leading risk factors.
What Are the Symptoms of Pancreatic Cancer?
As pancreatic cancer grows, it may begin to cause more noticeable symptoms. These can include:
- Belly or back pain
- Dark urine or pale stools
- Fatigue or general weakness
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea or vomiting
- New or worsening blood sugar levels (a sign of diabetes)
- Unexplained weight loss
- Yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice)
These symptoms don’t always mean cancer, but if they appear and don’t go away, they should be checked out—especially if you have a family history or other risk factors.
How Can You Prevent Pancreatic Cancer?
There’s no guaranteed way to prevent this cancer, but some steps may lower your risk:
- Quit smoking, which is one of the most important ways to lower your risk.
- Control diabetes and blood sugar levels.
- Eat a healthy diet that includes fruits, vegetables and lean proteins.
- Limit alcohol. Drinking a lot of alcohol can contribute to chronic pancreatitis, which increases your risk of getting pancreatic cancer. Avoid alcohol if you can, or follow the general guideline of one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
Finally, know your family history and discuss it with your doctor. If you have a parent or sibling with pancreatic cancer, they may suggest genetic counseling and screening to see if you have an inherited genetic condition that increases your risk.
What Is the Survival Rate for Pancreatic Cancer?
Pancreatic cancer can be aggressive, and survival rates are lower than for many other cancers. Survival rates depend on many factors, such as:
- Whether the cancer has spread
- The patient’s overall health
- Tumor type and size
- How well the cancer responds to treatment
Pancreatic cancer treatments may include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy or newer options available through clinical trials.
The Bottom Line
Pancreatic cancer is difficult to detect early, but understanding why can help you advocate for your health.
The combination of silent symptoms, hidden tumor location and lack of routine screening makes pancreatic cancer hard to find. Being aware of your risk factors—along with healthy lifestyle habits—can help improve treatment outcomes and, possibly, survival rates.
If you have questions or concerns about pancreatic cancer, Capital Health is here to help. Our experts are ready to listen, assess your risk and guide you through every step of care. Request an appointment with a member of our cancer team.