He Said She Said

I haven’t studied cancer in depth during my medical career yet (it’s what I will be doing for the next 3 weeks), but I’ll never forget how a lecturer described pancreatic cancer last year during our basic science course. His simple and blunt words were, “Pancreatic cancer is…some nasty stuff.” Median survival from diagnosis is around 3 to 6 months and five year survival rates for pancreatic cancer are less than 5 percent. Men are more likely to be affected. Pancreatic cancer is sometimes called a “silent killer” because no symptoms usually present until the cancer has metastasized (spread). When they do present, symptoms of pancreatic cancer are usually non-specific and include fatigue, abdominal pain, and weight loss.

If you’re thinking, hey, I love my life and the people around me, is there anything I can do to prevent pancreatic cancer? Like all cancers, the risk can be greatly reduced by following four guidelines: eat a healthy diet (plenty of fruit and vegetables), don’t smoke, exercise, and avoid obesity. These simple choices not only reduce cancer 80% but also diabetes, heart attack, and strokes. If you’re 0/4, 1/4, 2/4, or 3/4, seriously consider going 4/4 and encourage those around you to do the same.