Pancreatic cancer is known as a fatal disease. A surveillance program and thus a greater chance of early diagnosis can possibly improve survival.
The numbers of pancreatic cancer do not lie. "Once you get it, your chance of dying is very big," says Prof. Dr. Marco Bruno, head of the gastrointestinal liver disease department and researcher at the Erasmus MC in Rotterdam. "The pancreas is an organ deeply hidden in the body. A tumor in this organ can grow calmly and does not cause any complaints for a long time. Complaints only arise when the tumor is so large that it pushes against something, for example the bile duct. The first symptom is often a painless jaundice. "
The imaging of the pancreas has been greatly improved in recent years. That leads to better diagnosis and staging of tumors. "That staging is important because it indicates what you can mean to patients."
Risk groups are characterized by lifestyle factors (smoking, high fat and meat use and a relationship with diabetes and overweight), and it is typically an elderly person's disease. Another important risk factor is genetic engineering. Ten percent have a hereditary plant and develops cancer at a somewhat younger age.
"As patients report here, we therefore often have an advanced stage of the disease, with the disease going beyond the pancreas alone. In less than 10 percent of patients, we find that the tumor is restricted to the pancreas only. Of these patients, despite intensive treatment, only a quarter to five years are alive, "Bruno outlines the gloomy prospects.
Additionally, despite improved treatment techniques, survival has not improved significantly, although recent advances have been made in recent years. Prevention among risk groups is therefore an important manifesto. "To detect as early as possible. These are important tools to try to improve survival.
The expertise of Erasmus MC consists of the best possible treatment by a team of specialists including gastrointestinal surgeons, surgeons and oncologists. If cure is no longer possible, optimal palliative and pain management is the goal. Because prevention and early diagnosis offer opportunities to improve survival, the surveillance program is an important part of the scientific research program.
"The risk group is determined on the basis of the genetic risk. If people in the family or themselves have developed pancreatic cancer and we know that it has a genetic background, they will be eligible for this surveillance program. Every year we make an MRI scan and internal ultrasound to see if we can detect and treat changes in the pancreas early in the morning. A tumor is left for 10 to 15 years to develop, so we have ample opportunity for early diagnosis. "
Survival rate of pancreatic cancer
The numbers of pancreatic cancer do not lie. "Once you get it, your chance of dying is very big," says Prof. Dr. Marco Bruno, head of the gastrointestinal liver disease department and researcher at the Erasmus MC in Rotterdam. "The pancreas is an organ deeply hidden in the body. A tumor in this organ can grow calmly and does not cause any complaints for a long time. Complaints only arise when the tumor is so large that it pushes against something, for example the bile duct. The first symptom is often a painless jaundice. "
The imaging of the pancreas has been greatly improved in recent years. That leads to better diagnosis and staging of tumors. "That staging is important because it indicates what you can mean to patients."
What causes pancreatic cancer?
Risk groups are characterized by lifestyle factors (smoking, high fat and meat use and a relationship with diabetes and overweight), and it is typically an elderly person's disease. Another important risk factor is genetic engineering. Ten percent have a hereditary plant and develops cancer at a somewhat younger age.
The importance of prevention and early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer
"As patients report here, we therefore often have an advanced stage of the disease, with the disease going beyond the pancreas alone. In less than 10 percent of patients, we find that the tumor is restricted to the pancreas only. Of these patients, despite intensive treatment, only a quarter to five years are alive, "Bruno outlines the gloomy prospects.
Additionally, despite improved treatment techniques, survival has not improved significantly, although recent advances have been made in recent years. Prevention among risk groups is therefore an important manifesto. "To detect as early as possible. These are important tools to try to improve survival.
Pancreatic cancer prognosis
The expertise of Erasmus MC consists of the best possible treatment by a team of specialists including gastrointestinal surgeons, surgeons and oncologists. If cure is no longer possible, optimal palliative and pain management is the goal. Because prevention and early diagnosis offer opportunities to improve survival, the surveillance program is an important part of the scientific research program.
"The risk group is determined on the basis of the genetic risk. If people in the family or themselves have developed pancreatic cancer and we know that it has a genetic background, they will be eligible for this surveillance program. Every year we make an MRI scan and internal ultrasound to see if we can detect and treat changes in the pancreas early in the morning. A tumor is left for 10 to 15 years to develop, so we have ample opportunity for early diagnosis. "