Nursing and Public Health

Piel. Zdr. Publ.
Index Copernicus (ICV) – 69.56
Average rejection rate – 24.41%
ISSN 2082-9876 (print)
ISSN 2451-1870 (online)
Periodicity – quarterly

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Pielęgniarstwo i Zdrowie Publiczne Nursing and Public Health

2019, vol. 9, nr 1, January-March, p. 71–75

doi: 10.17219/pzp/96326

Publication type: clinical case

Language: English

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Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 3.0 Open Access

Getting ahead of pancreatic cancer and the future of early detection: A case report and mini-literature review

Sawsan Saeid1,A,C,D,E,F, Michael Posala1,A,C,D,E,F, Katarzyna Neubauer2,A,B,E,F

1 Gastroenterology Student Organization, Wroclaw Medical University, Wrocław, Poland

2 Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wrocław, Poland

Abstract

Pancreatic cancer (PAC) is an aggressive gastrointestinal cancer and the 7th leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. About 95% of PACs are exocrine in origin and adenocarcinoma is the most common type. Risk factors include smoking, obesity and diabetes. It generally presents later in life, with more than half of all cases occurring in those over the age of 70. Pancreatic cancer is highly insidious and commonly diagnosed when advanced. It consequently carries a poor prognosis, with a 5-year relative survival rate of 6%. We report a case of a 57-year-old man with no known risk factors who was diagnosed with advanced PAC. His symptoms were mild and began a few months prior to the diagnosis. We also review the literature on the current approach to PAC, as well as ongoing changes in management and attitudes (for instance the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network), primarily concerning early diagnosis and targeted therapy. Findings indicating that hyperglycemia might be the first sign of PAC in asymptomatic patients are highlighted.

Key words

targeted therapy, hyperglycemia, pancreatic cancer (PAC), new-onset diabetes

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