| > | | | | according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), |
| A recent discovery found that a panel of | | | | which also explained that pancreatic cancer is |
| biomarkers may alert physicians and victims to | | | | considered a "silent disease because of the |
| the early detection of pancreatic cancer. | | | | minimal and sometimes deceiving symptoms that |
| Pancreatic cancer can be caused by pancreatitis, | | | | are difficult to recognize and associate with |
| which is a side effect of the drug Byetta. | | | | pancreatic cancer. The NCI reported the following |
| Recently researchers discovered several | | | | symptoms and signs of pancreatic cancer: |
| biomarkers among a panel of proteins that show | | | | * weight loss |
| the development of pancreatic cancer in its | | | | * nausea and vomiting |
| earliest stages, which may increase detection | | | | * weakness |
| tests and early treatments of the fatal condition. | | | | * loss of appetite |
| According to news reports from Science Daily, | | | | * pain in upper back or abdomen |
| scientists developed a "five-biomarker panel that if | | | | * dark urine from jaundice |
| commercially developed, may be useful when | | | | * yellowing skin and eyes |
| combined with a currently available test measuring | | | | Causes and Prescription Drug Dangers |
| a pancreatic-cancer biomarker called CA 19.9, | | | | According to the American Cancer Society (ACS) |
| which is elevated 80 percent of the time among | | | | there are several risk factors associated with the |
| newly diagnosed patients." | | | | development of pancreatic cancer, but |
| The study involved experts from the Hutchinson | | | | researchers are still unsure as exactly what |
| Cancer Research Center, Massachusetts General | | | | causes the condition. However, the following are |
| Hospital, University of Michigan and the Belfer | | | | common characterisitcs making an individual more |
| Institute of Innovative Cancer Science at | | | | likely to develop the condition, according to ACS: |
| Dana-Faber Cancer Institute all of which | | | | * age |
| collaborated on the findings revealing that the | | | | * gender |
| biomarkers among the study’s test mice | | | | * race |
| translated to similar biomarkers among humans. | | | | * smoking |
| This means that if the biomarkers among both | | | | * diet, lack of exercises and obesity |
| the mice and humans are similar, the biomarkers | | | | * diabetes |
| will likely be able to increase early detection of the | | | | * chronic pancreatitis |
| deadly pancreatic condition. | | | | * cirrhosis of the liver |
| Because treatments are more effective during | | | | * work exposure to pesticides, dyes and |
| initial stages of this disease, this development of | | | | chemicals |
| may revolutionize the detection of this and | | | | * family history, hereditary conditions |
| potentially other similar diseases, according to | | | | * gene changes/inherited gene mutations |
| expert statements obtained from news reports. | | | | * stomach problems/surplus of stomach acids |
| Defining Pancreatic Cancer | | | | Unfortunately, there is also another risk factor |
| The cancer develops in the tissues of the organ | | | | that can be attributed to man-made |
| that commonly "regulates the metabolism of | | | | circumstances including the consumption of |
| sugars," according to the Mayo Clinic. | | | | prescription drugs, which may cause pancreatitis |
| Unfortunately, the Mayo Clinic also reports that | | | | leading to pancreatic cancer. One such prescription |
| the conditionis often described as a "leading cause | | | | drug is known as Byetta, which normally treats |
| of cancer deaths because it is not detected in | | | | type 2 diabetes but also causes the development |
| its early stages and has a very poor prognosis. | | | | of pancreatitis, according to a U.S. Food and Drug |
| According to Science Daily, pancreatic cancer is | | | | Administration’s (FDA) Health Advisory. |
| "the fourth leading cause of cancer death... with a | | | | Byetta, from Eli Lilly and Amylin Pharmceuticals, |
| five-year survival rate of only 3 percent." Also, 90 | | | | was released in 2005 and by August 2008, six |
| percent of the time a tumor can be successfully | | | | individuals consuming the drug had been |
| treated if caught early, however, if caught late it | | | | hospitalized for pancreatitis conditions, two of |
| can only be successfully treated 10 percent of | | | | whom died. Additionally, the drug has been linked |
| the time. | | | | to nearly 30 cases of acute pancreatitis among |
| Each year more than 29,000 additional Americans | | | | patients consuming Byetta. |
| are diagnosed with cancer of the pancreas, | | | | |