Researchers warn excess body weight could significantly increase risk of pancreatic cancer
| Apr 2, 2019, 11:48 IST
A new study has found that excess body weight can significantly increase the risk of developing pancreatic cancer.
Lead author of the study Eric J. Jacobs from the American Cancer Society in Atlanta says the findings suggest that weight gain is a bigger risk factor of death from the disease than previously believed. "Pancreatic cancer rates have been steadily increasing since the early 2000s. We've been puzzled by that increase because smoking — a major risk factor for pancreatic cancer — is declining," Jacobs told a news portal.
Pancreatic cancer is one of the most deadly forms of cancer with a five-year survival rate of only 8.5 per cent, according to the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database.
The team found that the higher the BMI the greater the chances were of dying from the deadly disease. "Our results strongly suggest that to stop and eventually reverse recent increases in pancreatic cancer rates, we will need to do better in preventing excess weight gain in children and younger adults...," Jacobs told a news portal. The study's findings were presented at the AACR Annual Meeting 2019 in March.
Previous research, published in the journal Cancer, found adolescent obesity increased the risk of pancreatic cancer later on in life. This form of cancer is reportedly the sixth most common types of the disease that is responsible for many deaths around the world.
However, in recent years scientists have gotten better at detecting pancreatic cancer due to a new approach to screening methods. This could help doctors identify it in people before it reaches an advanced stage, which by then can make it harder to treat. "Pancreatic cancer is an aggressive disease made even more devastating by its tendency to spread before detection, which is a serious roadblock to successful medical treatment," study author Brian Haan, PhD, a VARI professor, told a news portal. Adding, "We hope that our new test, when used in conjunction with the currently available test, will help doctors catch and treat pancreatic cancer in high-risk individuals before the disease has spread."
Tackling issues with excess weight gain and obesity have become urgent across the globe as it can lead to a host of various other health issues. Being overweight can also lead to health issues like diabetes and heart disease.
Lead author of the study Eric J. Jacobs from the American Cancer Society in Atlanta says the findings suggest that weight gain is a bigger risk factor of death from the disease than previously believed. "Pancreatic cancer rates have been steadily increasing since the early 2000s. We've been puzzled by that increase because smoking — a major risk factor for pancreatic cancer — is declining," Jacobs told a news portal.
Pancreatic cancer is one of the most deadly forms of cancer with a five-year survival rate of only 8.5 per cent, according to the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database.
The team found that the higher the BMI the greater the chances were of dying from the deadly disease. "Our results strongly suggest that to stop and eventually reverse recent increases in pancreatic cancer rates, we will need to do better in preventing excess weight gain in children and younger adults...," Jacobs told a news portal. The study's findings were presented at the AACR Annual Meeting 2019 in March.
Previous research, published in the journal Cancer, found adolescent obesity increased the risk of pancreatic cancer later on in life. This form of cancer is reportedly the sixth most common types of the disease that is responsible for many deaths around the world.
However, in recent years scientists have gotten better at detecting pancreatic cancer due to a new approach to screening methods. This could help doctors identify it in people before it reaches an advanced stage, which by then can make it harder to treat. "Pancreatic cancer is an aggressive disease made even more devastating by its tendency to spread before detection, which is a serious roadblock to successful medical treatment," study author Brian Haan, PhD, a VARI professor, told a news portal. Adding, "We hope that our new test, when used in conjunction with the currently available test, will help doctors catch and treat pancreatic cancer in high-risk individuals before the disease has spread."
Tackling issues with excess weight gain and obesity have become urgent across the globe as it can lead to a host of various other health issues. Being overweight can also lead to health issues like diabetes and heart disease.