Dieting or Cancer?
- Elaine Hill-Clement, 61, had been experiencing weight loss and back pain for up to 5 years. In 2018 she had an MRI which found she had pancreatic cancer. She passed away 5 months later.
- Symptoms of pancreatic cancer often don't present themselves until the disease has already progressed into later stages. These symptoms can include unexplained weight loss, back pain, abdominal pain, and jaundice.
- There are also challenges to screening for the disease as the pancreas is located deep inside the body and therefore tumors aren't as prominent.
Elaine had been experiencing weight loss and back pain for up to 5 years, and would regularly go see her doctor complaining of the health issues. She was brushed off numerous times, but in 2018 one doctor theorized that it could be due to a problem with her gallbladder, and she had an MRI to get checked out. Turns out, the problems stemmed from pancreatic cancer, and since it was caught so late, she was told it was incurable. Not only was this news shocking to Elaine, but also to her children Stephen and Meagan, who assumed the weight loss was due to their mother dieting and trying to stay in shape.
Read More“After she was diagnosed we learnt that her pains were actually symptoms of pancreatic cancer,” Stephen said. “She must’ve had cancer for quite a few years before she was actually diagnosed. It was very challenging and upsetting but my mentality was to just get through it and get by every day. It was a bit of a whirlwind and now it’s a blur.”
Dr. Allyson Ocean explains why pancreatic cancer is so hard to treat
Pancreatic Cancer: Symptoms
Pancreatic cancer is difficult to detect early, as symptoms often don't present themselves until the disease has already progressed into later stages. This is one of the reasons why it’s known as one of the most difficult cancers to successfully treat, as the later the stage of diagnosis, the fewer treatment options are available.
"So the pancreas is an organ in your belly, and this is where pancreatic cancer arises," Dr. Anirban Maitra, co-leader of Pancreatic Cancer Moon Shot at MD Anderson Cancer Center, previously told SurvivorNet. "Because the pancreas is inside the abdomen, it often doesn't have symptoms that would tell you that something is wrong with your pancreas. By the time individuals walk into the clinic with symptoms like jaundice, weight loss, back pain, or diabetes, it's often very late in the stage of the disease."
It’s still possible to be vigilant about signs that something may be wrong. Here are the most common symptoms of pancreatic cancer:
- Abdominal bloating
- Abdominal or back pain
- Digestive problems
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)
- Changes in bowel movements
- Unexplained weight loss
- Blood clots (can cause swelling and tenderness in affected areas)
- Diabetes
In addition to symptoms presenting themselves later, there’s still considerable work to do concerning screening methods. The pancreas is located deep inside the body and therefore tumors aren't as prominent as they are with other types of cancer such as breasts or melanoma. However, research and clinical trials are still being done to make treatment options safe and accessible. When it comes to cancer awareness and treatment, knowledge is power. Always make sure to look out for possible signs.
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