Pancreatic Cancer: Symptoms, Causes, Stages, Treatment, and Immune Support

What is pancreatic cancer?

Pancreatic cancer is a tumour found in any part of the pancreas. Cancer begins when cells start to multiply uncontrollably. Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is the most common type. The pancreas produces hormones and enzymes that help digest food and, among other functions, regulate blood sugar levels.

Symptoms

Pancreatic cancer often shows no symptoms until it reaches a later stage — so there are no reliable early signs. The most common symptoms of established cancer are:

• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss
• Abdominal or back pain
• Blood clots
• Yellowing of the eyes (jaundice)
• Depression

As the cancer spreads, symptoms become more pronounced and new ones may appear.

Did I inherit it?

Only up to 1 in 10 pancreatic cancer cases may be inherited. The other 90% are acquired — mutations that happen during life, not inherited ones. These DNA mutations are not passed from parents to children.¹

Why do we get it?

Causes within your control:

• Sugar, sweetened drinks and sweets²
• Smoking³
• Alcohol⁴
• Pesticides⁵
• Excess weight³
• Environmental chemicals⁶
• Cadmium⁷

Stages

Once pancreatic cancer is found, further tests assess how far it has spread. Based on the results, the oncologist assigns a stage:

• Stage 1: the cancer is confined to the pancreas.
• Stage 2: spread to nearby tissues or lymph nodes.
• Stage 3: spread to major blood vessels and lymph nodes.
• Stage 4: spread to other organs, such as the liver.

Life expectancy with pancreatic cancer depends heavily on spread, the treatment chosen, and the patient's condition.

Treatment

Treatment and survival depend on the stage. The goal is to destroy cancer cells and prevent the disease from spreading. The most common complications during treatment are weight loss, constipation, abdominal pain and liver failure.

Surgery: the stage and location determine whether surgery is performed. Surgery can remove the primary tumour, but it will not remove cancer that has spread elsewhere — so it may be unsuitable for people with advanced-stage pancreatic cancer. Radiotherapy: when the cancer has spread beyond the pancreas, radiotherapy may be prescribed, using X-rays and other radiation to destroy cancer cells. Chemotherapy: in some cases the oncologist may combine chemotherapy with other treatments.

What else can I do in the fight against pancreatic cancer?

If you want to help your body heal, reduce inflammation, balance your diet and strengthen the immune system's ability to recognise and destroy altered cells, relying on chemotherapy, surgery or radiotherapy alone will not be enough (though do not avoid them — with prevention you are already late). You will help yourself considerably by doing the following:

• Lentinan supplements are used at all stages of cancer treatment. Lentinan improves the effectiveness of conventional treatment, reduces side effects, and improves quality of life. These are active compounds extracted from medicinal mushrooms, widely used in the East (Japan), because they are powerful immunomodulators that prompt the immune system to detect and destroy cancer cells. The shortest recommended course is 3 months — the longer it is taken, the better the results.
• Breathing exercises — look into the Wim Hof method.
• Exercise (do not underestimate it!).
• And be sure to read about what to eat after chemotherapy.