Pancreatic Cancer: Can It Be Diagnosed Early?

Symptoms of pancreatic cancer usually occur only in the disease’s advanced stages. However, new blood exams may help detect pancreatic cancer earlier. Additional tests may be required to confirm a cancer diagnosis. Pancreatic cancer accounts for about 7% Trusted Source American Cancer Society Highly respected international organization Go to source of cancer deaths in the United States. Pancreatic cancer has a low survival rate because it is difficult to diagnose in its early stages.

This article explains how it may be possible to detect pancreatic cancer early and what tests are available. The article also describes the symptoms of pancreatic cancer and explains who has a higher risk of developing it.

Researchers are developing new tests that can help detect pancreatic cancer in its early stages. These tests usually rely on blood tests. A blood test can detect the level of antigen CA19-9 in the blood. This antigen is linked to pancreatic cancer.

Blood tests can also show if your bloodstream contains certain chemicals that may be signs of a developing tumor.

To confirm the diagnosis of cancer, other diagnosing tests need to follow blood tests.

Read about pancreatic cancer.

The GRAIL company’s Galleri test screens for multiple cancers. The test consists of Trusted Source PubMed Central Highly respected database from the National Institutes of Health Go to source an analysis of your blood sample. Doctors analyze the sample, looking for traces of DNA fragments that may be linked to tumors. These fragments can suggest which part of the body they come from and, as a result, where cancer is starting to develop.

This could help detect the vast majority of tumors before early symptoms appear. Detecting cancer in its early stages may prevent its spread to other areas of the body. This may also lead to a better outcome for people with cancer.

The Galleri test, being a trial, requires additional testing Trusted Source PubMed Central Highly respected database from the National Institutes of Health Go to source specific to pancreatic cancer before your doctor can confirm a diagnosis.

The IMMray PanCan-d test can Trusted Source PubMed Central Highly respected database from the National Institutes of Health Go to source combine Trusted Source PubMed Central Highly respected database from the National Institutes of Health Go to source 8 serum biomarkers with the antigen CA19-9 into an algorithm. This algorithm can detect the presence or risk of pancreatic cancer.

Your doctor will order the test. Following this, the company sends the test kit to your home. You then take the kit to a lab or clinic, where the sample will be collected and sent back to the company. The company tests your serum with various antigens, recording its reaction to them. Finally, they test the level of CA19-9 with a separate instrument. The results of the tests are put into an algorithm that calculates a person’s potential risk for developing pancreatic cancer.

It is important to know that insurance does not yet cover this test.

If you have a family history of genetic conditions that can increase the risk of developing pancreatic cancer, your doctor may refer you to a genetic center. There, researchers can study your DNA.

Genetic tests look for irregularities within the genes that have a well-known link to the development of pancreatic cancer. This type of test is usually offered first to a member of the family who has developed pancreatic cancer. Their results are compared with those of other members of the same family.

Doctors can find out if your family member has an irregular gene in their DNA. If doctors find an irregularity in one or more genes, they may recommend that other family members undergo a screening test to check for the same ones.

If you have a family history of pancreatic cancer, consider talking with your doctor. This is especially important if you have concerns or you experience any symptoms.

If your doctor believes you may have an increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer, they may recommend further screening.

The tests most commonly Trusted Source American Cancer Society Highly respected international organization Go to source used to screen people with high risk for pancreatic cancer are the MRI scan and the endoscopic ultrasound. Using these tests, doctors have successfully found pancreatic cancer in its early stages in members of high risk families.

One risk factor of pancreatic cancer is smoking. Smoking causes about 20% Trusted Source PubMed Central Highly respected database from the National Institutes of Health Go to source of pancreatic cancer cases.

Risk factors for pancreatic cancer can also include:

• family history of pancreatic cancer
• age older than 55 years
• obesity
• chronic pancreatitis
• diabetes
• cirrhosis of the liver
• Helicobacter pylori infection
• work exposure to certain chemicals used in the metalworking and dry-cleaning industry

About 70% of people Trusted Source PubMed Central Highly respected database from the National Institutes of Health Go to source with pancreatic cancer experience painless jaundice, or yellowing of the skin. The tumor’s obstruction of the bile duct commonly causes the jaundice.

Other symptoms of pancreatic cancer may include:

• weight loss
• abdominal pain
• anorexia
• pale or clay-colored stools
• dark urine
• itchy skin
• distended gallbladder
• deep vein thrombosis

Faith Selchick, D.N.P., APRN, AOCNP, has reviewed these questions people frequently ask about pancreatic cancer.

While blood tests may be a part of pancreatic cancer diagnosis, there are currently no standard or national cancer screening guidelines for these tests. There are blood tests that are currently being researched to detect pancreatic cancer early. However, they are not yet approved by insurance companies or the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For an accurate pancreatic cancer diagnosis, a biopsy is required.

An early diagnosis can improve Trusted Source PubMed Central Highly respected database from the National Institutes of Health Go to source the outlook of a person with pancreatic cancer. If it is found in these early stages, pancreatic cancer can be cured. However, it is more commonly found in later stages when it is not curable.

A small 2021 study Trusted Source PubMed Central Highly respected database from the National Institutes of Health Go to source found that people can have pancreatic cancer for 2 years before they experience the first symptoms. According to the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program Trusted Source National Cancer Institute Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program Governmental authority Go to source , about 82% of pancreatic cancer cases are diagnosed after the cancer has spread to areas nearby or to other areas of the body. This means that most cases are found in later stages.

Most people do not know they have pancreatic cancer until the advanced stages when the first symptoms appear. For this reason, pancreatic cancer can have a low survival rate.

New detection blood tests have been developed and can be used alongside traditional diagnosing methods. These blood tests can help doctors find pancreatic cancer in its early stages. Detecting pancreatic cancer in its early stages may improve the outlook.

However, there are limitations to these new tests. Many of them are still in clinical trials, and they have high out-of-pocket costs as insurance does not cover them.

If you have concerns about your risks of developing pancreatic cancer, speak with your doctor.