Judge Frank Caprio, known for his compassion and humour alike, died at the age of 88 on Wednesday, following a brave battle with pancreatic cancer. He served at the Providence Municipal Court in Rhode Island, gaining public approval for his warmth, kindness and humour and was also part of the TV show Caught in Providence. He also had a strong social media presence, and one of his morning routine videos garnered more than 5 million views.
The demise of Caprio has shone the spotlight on pancreatic cancer, the tenth most common cancer in men and the seventh most common in women, according to Medscape.
Pancreatic cancer isn’t easy to detect, but often goes undetected, as the symptoms are often mistaken for common digestive issues, considering the pancreas is located deep inside the abdomen.
Common symptoms of pancreatic cancer
People with pancreatic cancer may experience persistent abdominal pain radiating to the back, unexplained weight loss and loss of appetite, jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes due to blocked bile ducts), indigestion, bloating, and changes in bowel habits, Dr Ramana Gogi, Principal Consultant – Medical Oncology, CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram, told The Financial Express.
Pancreatic cancer can also show up as a newly developed diabetes in people or as uncontrolled existing diabetes.
However, not many people suspect their symptoms may be connected with pancreatic cancer, and by the time it’s diagnosed, the treatment options become limited.
Why are early signs often missed?
People in the early stages of pancreatic cancer do not show up with alarming signs and report symptoms similar to common gastrointestinal problems such as acidity, gallstones, or irritable bowel syndrome.
Dr Gogi feels the lack of a specific screening test makes proactive detection difficult.
“Patients often ignore subtle changes, attributing them to ageing or lifestyle. By the time noticeable signs such as jaundice appear, the disease is often advanced,” says the oncologist.
Dr Soumil J Vyas, Pancreatic Cancer Surgeon and Surgical Oncologist, Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital, Mumbai, agrees that in the very early stages, pancreatic cancer can present with very non-specific symptoms. Sometimes due to the absence of pain, people may skip seeing a doctor let alone get screened for cancer.
“Patients often complain of vague abdominal discomfort – not necessarily pain and digestive issues, which often gets interpreted as acidity or acid dyspepsia. The early stages of pancreatic cancer are very silent and in majority of patients, the cancer gets detected when they experience significant weight loss or vomiting,” Dr Vyas told Financial Express.
Another important symptom that should not be missed while suspecting pancreatic cancer is the presence of jaundice which develops when the tumour in the pancreas compresses the bile ducts and leads to obstruction. This is often the initial presentation in a large proportion of patients, says the oncologist.
Who is at risk of pancreatic cancer
Most patients are diagnosed after the age of 60, but the early-onset pancreatic cancers can also affect people. The other risk factors may vary from lifestyle, existing medical conditions to genetics.
Smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, obesity, and a diet high in red or processed meat can put one at risk of pancreatic cancer, says Dr Gogi.
Chronic pancreatitis, long-standing diabetes, or liver disease can also up the risk, while family history of pancreatic or related cancers can add to it too.
A worrying trend
Dr Vyas points to a disturbing trend of growing pancreatic cancer cases in younger population,.
Pancreatic cancer, once the disease of the old, is now witnessing rapid increase in younger population. Especially in India, the cases of gastrointestinal and pancreatic cancers, particularly affecting the younger population (below the age of 50 years) are rising.
Is there a way to avoid pancreatic cancer?
While one cannot completely rule it out, certain lifestyle choices can definitely support pancreas health and reduce risk, as listed by Dr Gogi.
Avoid smoking and limit alcohol consumption
Maintain a healthy weight and exercise regularly
Eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains
Manage diabetes and pancreatitis effectively
Undergo regular health check-ups if there is a family history
Overall, awareness of the disease and its possible symptoms can greatly improve chances of survival and recovery.