November is pancreatic cancer awareness month and Dr. Kelly Givens from our Junius office is sharing some helpful information about the disease and prevention. Dr. Givens has lost a sibling to the disease and is an advocate for early detection and prevention.
Pancreatic cancer accounts for about 3% of cancer cases in the US but accounts for about 7% of cancer deaths in the US. Cancer is not always preventable, but you can lower your risk significantly by avoiding tobacco and maintaining a healthy weight. About 25% of pancreatic cancer is related to tobacco use, and maintaining a healthy weight lowers your risk of getting pancreatic cancer by about 20%.
Pancreatic cancer can also be associated with certain high risk cancer genes. If anyone in your family has had pancreatic cancer, make sure you talk to your doctor about it to see if genetic screening is right for you. Always get checked out if you have symptoms that can be associated with pancreatic cancer—unexplained stomach pain, yellow skin, weight loss, or nausea.
For more information about the disease, visit https://pancan.org/facing-pancreatic-cancer/change-the-course/
