How make Me Circumvent Pancreatic Cancer?
Cancer
is a condition which most people dread. There are certain types of cancer which
respond very well to modern chemotherapy and have excellent chances of
recovery. Unfortunately, pancreatic cancer is not one of those cancers which are
amenable to treatment. In most cases, the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer comes
very late, when the disease has already progressed and involved the surrounding
organs. This makes prevention a very important part of keeping oneself healthy.
This article discuses the answer to the question how can I avoid pancreatic
cancer.
To
understand how I can avoid pancreatic cancer, the first step is to understand
the risk factors for this condition. There are many factors that are associated
with an increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer. The most important
links start with smoking. It has been observed that smoking cigarettes is a
very important risk factor which contributes to increased risk of pancreatic
cancer. You will want to kick the smoking habit to ensure protection not just
against pancreatic but also lung and oral cancers. Being obese or overweight
also contributes to an increased susceptibility to cancer of the pancreas. You
should maintain the ideal weight for your age and height by embarking on a
regular fitness program and sticking to a healthy diet. Diet may also play an
important part as pancreatic cancer can be associated with diets which are rich
in fats and meat.
Other
factors which influence the answer to the question how can I avoid pancreatic
cancer come from the family history. You have to check if your family has a
positive history of pancreatic cancer. This might be among first or second
degree relatives. There is also an influence of conditions like chronic
pancreatitis. If you have a history of repeated attacks of inflammation of your
pancreas, this increases the risk of developing pancreatic cancer to a great
extent. Some families have a predisposition to chronic pancreatitis and this
factor must be looked into in detail. One risk factor for pancreatitis itself
and indirectly affecting the risk of developing pancreatic cancer is alcohol
intake. There is clinical evidence to prove that alcohol induced pancreatitis
is positively correlated with a higher risk of developing pancreatic cancer.
Alcohol intake is also associated with liver cirrhosis which has been
implicated in the development of pancreatic cancer. Family history of genetic
syndromes that can increase cancer risk, including a BRCA2 gene mutation, Peutz-Jeghers
syndrome, Lynch syndrome and familial atypical mole-malignant melanoma (FAMMM).
Age
is another factor in the puzzling answer to what can I do to avoid pancreatic
cancer. The older you are, the higher are your chances of developing the condition.
But this is usually the case above to age of 70 years. The African - American
population also has a higher chance of developing pancreatic cancer. The
solution to this is to go in for regular check - ups to detect any abnormal
cellular activity if you have any of the risk factors mentioned. This could be
an annual health check up with special emphasis on cancer detection. Pancreatic
cancer is also a risk in case you are diabetic, so you must consult your doctor
about risk factors in your family that could combine with your diabetic
condition to develop pancreatic cancer. There is also evidence pointing to the
long term exposure to chemicals like gasoline and its related compounds which
increase the risk of developing pancreatic cancer. Some insecticides have also
been implicated in this.