Oncologist named risk factors for pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer is a dangerous and difficult-to-treat cancer. On March 11, the oncologist of the SM Clinic, Doctor of Medicine, Professor Valery Egiev, told Izvestia about the factors provoking its development.

He noted that pancreatic cancer behaves very unpredictably and aggressively. In some cases, metastases may appear as early as the first or second stage, almost immediately after the removal of the tumor. The survival rate of cancer patients during the first 6-12 months after they learn about their diagnosis does not exceed 8%, and after five years — only 1.5–5%.

Among the main risk factors for the development of adenocarcinoma, a cancerous tumor that develops in the pancreatic ducts, are chronic pancreatitis and diabetes, bad habits and poor heredity, Egiev emphasized.

"If the problem is not solved in time, patients have an increased risk of developing a tumor by more than 20 times, and with hereditary pancreatitis — by 60 times. Diabetes mellitus can often develop against the background of pancreatitis, which is known to be closely associated with cancer in the elderly," the doctor warned.

Egiev also called smoking and alcohol risk factors. Toxic carcinogens from tobacco smoke and alcohol quickly destroy healthy gland cells and first lead to fibrosis and the development of chronic pancreatitis, and eventually to the formation of a tumor, the specialist explained.

In addition, heredity plays an important role. There is even a special term in the global oncological community — "familial pancreatic cancer," Egiev said. Doctors pay special attention to mutations of the KRAS2 genes, which are transmitted through the first line of kinship from parents to children. In almost 90% of cases, it is these genes that provoke malignant changes in pancreatic cells.

"Take care of your health, get rid of bad habits, and do not neglect regular diagnostics of the gastrointestinal tract, even if it seems to you that a slight pain in the left hypochondrium or mild nausea is not worth going to the clinic. Of course, adenocarcinoma is very difficult to treat, but with its early detection, patients have a chance to successfully cross the five—year survival threshold," the doctor concluded.

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On February 17, Nikita Makarov, an oncologist at the SM Clinic, told Izvestia about diseases of the gastrointestinal tract that increase the risk of cancer. According to him, they remain stomach ulcers, polyps and chronic gastritis. Another dangerous gastrointestinal disease is atrophic gastritis with low acidity, or gastritis type A. The main danger of the disease lies in the gradual destruction of the stomach glands responsible for the production of hydrochloric acid.