What you need to know about pancreatic cancer after Alex Trebek’s diagnosis
Longtime “Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebek’s announcement on Wednesday that he is fighting stage 4 pancreatic cancer sent shockwaves through the legion of fans of the famous quiz show.
“Now, normally, the prognosis for this is not very encouraging, but I’m going to fight this,” Trebek said in a video. “And I’m going to keep working and with the love and support of my family and friends — and with the help of your prayers also — I plan to beat the low survival rate statistics for this disease.”
You might not know much about this disease. Dr. John Brems, a liver and pancreatic cancer surgeon at Advocate Sherman Hospital in Elgin, Ill., answered some questions:
In 2016, pancreatic cancer jumped from the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death to the third, surpassing breast cancer. The American Cancer Society estimates that the cancer will kill nearly 46,000 Americans this year.
So, what makes this cancer so deadly?
Most pancreatic cancer begins in the cells that line the ducts of the pancreas, spreads rapidly and is seldom detected in its early stages. Signs and symptoms may not appear until pancreatic cancer has advanced past the point of surgery as a treatment option. Unlike colon cancer and breast cancer, there are no screenings or other early detection methods.
The warning signs of pancreatic cancer are often mistaken for less serious conditions. Possible warning signs include:
- Abdominal or back pain
- Loss of appetite
- Yellowing of the skin or eyes
- Weight loss
- Nausea
- Recent onset diabetes
In addition to family history, research suggests the following factors may contribute to an increased likelihood of developing pancreatic cancer:
- Diabetes
- Chronic pancreatitis
- Smoking
- Over age 60
- Of African-American heritage
- A diet high in processed meats
- Obesity
If you have any of these risk factors and experience any of the above symptoms, you should see your doctor right away.
So, what are the treatment options?
For patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer – meaning the cancer has not spread outside the pancreas – a combination of chemotherapy, surgery and radiation may be an option. The surgery used to remove the tumor is called the Whipple procedure, which removes the wide part of the pancreas, part of the small intestine, a portion of the common bile duct, gallbladder and sometimes, part of the stomach. Afterward, the surgeon reconnects the remaining intestine, bile duct and pancreas.
For patients with inoperable or difficult-to-reach tumors, Advocate Sherman Hospital offers a treatment called irreversible electroporation using the NanoKnife system. A team of a surgeon and an interventional radiologist precisely place nodes around the tumor that send electrical pulses into the tumor. The currents cause the cancer cells to be unbalanced and trigger cell “suicide,” which destroys the tumor. After the tumor is destroyed, the body naturally rids itself of the dead cells, which are replaced with healthy ones. Research suggests this treatment is doubling life expectancy for pancreatic cancer patients.
Though the exact causes of pancreatic cancer are not yet well understood, maintaining your overall health is an important step in the prevention of all types of cancers. Stay up to date on your annual physicals and screenings, maintain a balanced diet and healthy weight and see your doctor at the first sign of anything that seems out of the ordinary.
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About the Author
Tonya Lucchetti-Hudson, health enews contributor, is public affairs director for Advocate Medical Group and Advocate Physician Partners.
i have diabetes, is hereditary. I’m on insulin twice a day. have periods of painful cramps in that area. am signed up with a gyno to check on postmenopausal bleeding; surrounding areas. I will pray for Alexx and rthat he chooses the right path. God is with u, Alex. DON’T GIVE UP, u hear me!
My husband just got a clean bill of health after fighting AML for 6months. He was on the brink of death and came back with prayers and love. Sending both to Alex
My father died of pancreatic cancer in 1969. He was 56 years old. I was a senior in high school. By the time they found it, it had spread to his liver. He was a family practice physician and was a wonderful man who even made house calls and worried about his patients. He was loved by many including me. He was a heavy smoker, and in the 60’s a lot of physicians still smoked. I am convinced that was what lead to his cancer. He lived six months after diagnosis and went through radiation treatments that were almost as bad as the cancer causing pain and nausea. All I can say is if you smoke stop now. I believe if he had stopped earlier in his life he would have led a much longer life.