November 21 is World Pancreatic Cancer Day.

He world day Pancreatic cancer This is a key date to bring visibility to one of the most aggressive cancers with the lowest survival rate. In 2024, the global campaign will focus on the slogan “Act in time: detection can save lives”to raise awareness of the importance of identifying early symptoms and risk factors for this disease. Organizations from around the world will come together to host awareness events, solidarity events and digital campaigns that will promote prevention, access to accurate diagnoses and advances in research. This year’s message highlights the need to encourage regular health check-ups, especially among people with a family history or risk-taking habits, to improve patients’ prognosis and quality of life.

Knowledge about pancreatic cancer is critical because of its increased morbidity and high mortality. Learning about its symptoms, risk factors, and prevention methods can change the prognosis for those who suffer from it. Despite advances in research, this disease remains complex, and a collaborative effort among professionals, patients, and society is required to improve long-term outcomes.

Doctor Felipe de la Morena Lopez Physician Assistant, Digestive System, La Princesa University HospitalIn an interview, OKSALUD talks about the problems and achievements in the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer. It highlights the latest research and technologies that are changing the way we approach this disease, from early detection to personalized therapeutic options. Also share

recommendations for prevention and comprehensive support for patients and their families.Considering the importance of understanding risk factors and conducting regular medical examinations in people with a history of or persistent digestive symptoms.

QUESTION: What are the major risk factors associated with pancreatic cancer, and how do each of them affect the development of this disease?

REPLY.- Most pancreatic tumors have a sporadic appearance without clear correlation with any specific factor or factor considered necessary for their occurrence. However, both alcohol and especially tobacco smoking are the environmental habits most clearly associated with an increased risk of disease. There are also genetic syndromes that are clearly associated with pancreatic cancer, although fortunately they are rare.

Q.-What are the most common symptoms in the early stages of pancreatic cancer and why is it usually difficult to detect in the early stages?

A.- The problem with pancreatic cancer is its asymptomatic nature in the initial stages, where the possibility of cure is higher. The presence of abdominal pain, significant weight loss, and a yellowish tint to the eyes in the absence of pain may be identifiable clinical findings, but in most cases they correlate with more advanced disease.

Q.-What diagnostic tests are most effective for detecting pancreatic cancer in the early stages? What restrictions do they have?

A.- Visual diagnosis is currently the best method for diagnosing the disease. Both magnetic resonance imaging and, especially in the earliest stages, endoscopic ultrasound provide good rates of detecting tumors even smaller than 2 centimeters. Both methods are generally available in most medical centers in our country, although conditions such as claustrophobia or the presence of metallic devices for MRI, or the invasiveness and need for sedation during ultrasound endoscopy, can be considered the main limitations and determining factors in choosing one or the other method. another. In general, in this type of patient they have a complementary and ideal character.

Question: Are there new advances or new technologies that improve early detection of pancreatic cancer?

A.- Given that this pathology still has a relatively low prevalence, despite the progressive increase in its incidence in recent years, there are no screening measures in the general population, as for other much more common tumors. However, there are patients at high individual risk, such as those with multiple family histories or the aforementioned predisposing genetic syndromes. Mutation detection in liquid biopsy (usually blood) is a promising method for early diagnosis, especially in high-risk patients or in precursor lesions such as some subtypes of pancreatic cysts or patients with chronic pancreatitis.

Question: What are the current treatment options for pancreatic cancer? In what cases is each of them recommended (surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy)?

A.- This depends on the stage of the disease at the initial stage. Surgery remains the ideal treatment for pancreatic cancer today. Other methods, such as chemotherapy, high-intensity targeted radiation therapy, or ablation of lesions using endoscopic ultrasound, are additional methods that can achieve control or even partial regression of the disease, sometimes allowing surgery at a later stage. In any case, most patients are discussed in panels of experts of various specialties, which enhances decision making by offering the best therapeutic alternatives to each of the patients. It is necessary to point out how important advances have been made in pancreatic surgery and oncological treatment in recent years that allow current results to be achieved that were possible a few years ago. chimera.

Question: What role does diet and lifestyle play in the prevention and treatment of pancreatic cancer?

A.- As we’ve said, although pancreatic cancer does not have a single cause, we can identify how tobacco, alcohol, excessive consumption of saturated fat, and a sedentary lifestyle are linked (in that order) as major risk factors for the disease. This does not completely prevent it, but it reduces the likelihood of its occurrence.

Question: What experimental treatments or experimental treatments do you think have the most promise for improving the prognosis of patients with pancreatic cancer?

A.- New chemotherapeutic treatments directed at molecular targets present a new scenario for the development of pancreatic cancer. Targeted therapy based on a specific tumor subtype is likely to shape a new scenario in our fight against this disease. On the other hand, local treatment through local inoculation of oncocytic virus therapy, chemotherapy, brachytherapy or ablative techniques may also be helpful and look for your specific scenario.

Question. What are the recommended resources and support to help patients and families cope with this disease, from diagnosis to advanced stages?

A.-Psychological and nutritional support are two fundamental pillars that have been shown not only to improve the quality of life of these patients, but also to increase survival. Over time, we have learned to look at the disease more globally, caring for the patient, understanding him holistically, including the environment. Illness in many cases does not represent a specific and well-defined short-term problem, but rather a long-term prognosis for life, where psychological, physical and social care play a fundamental role in a person’s health status. This disease represents a model in which the task of professionals is to treat, care for and accompany the patient in the treatment process and decision-making.