The Medical Advisor

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most challenging forms of an already difficult disease. It sometimes dubbed the “ king of cancer “ due to its malignancy, poses challenges in both early detection and late-stage treatment. Despite relatively low incidence levels, it ranks seventh among causes of global cancer deaths in industrialized countries and was the third most common cause of cancer mortality in the United States in 2020. Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Because patients seldom experience symptoms until the disease has reached an advanced stage, pancreatic cancer remains challenging to treat successfully. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, 80 percent of cases aren’t diagnosed until later, difficult-to-treat stages. Thus, despite advancements in detection and management, the five-year survival rate is still only 5 to 10 percent . Common Types of Pancreatic Cancer There are two categories of pancreatic cancer—those that affect the exocrine cells in the pancreas and those that affect t...