Pancreatic Cancer...an article I wrote back in 2010

I was paid 2.12 upfront for this article, I think I had intended to make this a series but haven't as of yet, maybe I will at some point.



http://voices.yahoo.com/pancreatic-cancer-5377119.html?cat=5


Pancreatic Cancer
First in a Series



 Pancreatic cancer is a very painful disease. The survival rate for pancreatic cancer is very low.
This is because of the fact being, that in the early stages it is a silent disease. By the time symptoms are present the cancer is often at an advanced stage.



The Harvard School of Public Health and Farber Cancer Institute have recently done a brief study on the link between poor dental hygiene and pancreatic cancer.



Dental Hygiene is something that if neglected can lead to more than just bad breath and dental cavities. Poor dental hygiene has been linked to heart attacks, and septic blood poisoning, and now research suggests there is a link to pancreatic cancer.



Poor dental hygiene has been shown in two separate medical studies to be a risk factor for pancreatic cancer.



In one study all of those included were smokers, in the other study no adjustments were made for smoking.



Smoking is a known risk factor for pancreatic cancer. Obesity is also a risk factor for pancreatic cancer.



Periodontal disease, inflammation of the gums caused by bacterial infection, and tooth loss resulting from this, has been shown to increase the risk of pancreatic cancer, in two separate studies.



A history of periodontal disease was independently associated with and increased risk of pancreatic cancer overall, but not in smokers. Recent tooth loss was also shown create an increased risk of pancreatic cancer.



Pancreatic cancer is a very serious disease. It is a disease that strikes a person, and causes them to experience much pain. This is a painful cancer. It also causes extreme weight loss. My father recently passed away due to this disease, when he died he was less than one hundred pounds. He was very thin.



Before he was diagnosed with cancer he was an avid fisherman, he loved to fish. He was also very interested in gemstones and various kinds of rocks. He collected rocks, and liked to make jewelry. He liked to do a great many things.



But a couple of things he did most likely according to the statistics I've read may have led to his pancreatic cancer. At the least these things increased his risk.



What you ask increased his risk? My father for many years smoked cigarettes at one point he was even a chain smoker. Smoking one cigarette right after another, he also drank at times a lot. I'd never seen him drunk, but I've seen him drink every day for many days on end.



I believe these were most likely the two worst things he did in regards to his health. Because he was a physically fit individual, if he'd ever been overweight or fat, it was not when I knew him.



Pancreatic cancer may or may not be totally preventable, but knowing certain behaviors may increase your risk, should help you to make better choices.



Some risk factors you can do nothing about, such a heredity or race.



But other risk factors such as smoking, alcohol, excess use of certain types of medicines, obesity, these are things that can be controlled by the individual. In most cases you will find this true.
There are currently several medical studies going on concerning Pancreatic Cancer. If you are interested in finding out if you qualify to be included in a medical study concerning Pancreatic Cancer you can go to this website (http://www.pancreatica.org/registries.html).



Pancreatic Cancer is very painful, if you currently choose to smoke or drink, I would urge you to make better choices. Because you are increasing your risk for this type of cancer, the survival rates for this type of cancer is very poor. From time of diagnoses death usually comes within six months.
My father lived longer than average with this disease but he still died much sooner than he would have. He had a strong-will to live, because if he had not of he would of died much sooner.



You may not be able to prevent or eliminate all risk for this disease but you do not have to increase your risk by smoking. Smoking is nothing more than polluting your body, and it will catch up to you sooner or later. Some studies have even shown that second hand smoke is a trigger for disease in non-smokers who live with smokers.



I'll try to write more on this topic a little later, as I am tired from researching this topic today.

Sources:

http://jnci.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/99/2/171

http://seniorjournal.com/NEWS/Health/2009/20090623-ObesityIsKiller.htm

http://www.pancreatica.org/registries.html

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/bookshelf/br.fcgi?book=famcan&part=ch2famcan

http://www.webmd.com/cancer/pancreatic-cancer/pancreatic-cancer-symptoms

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/pancreatic-cancer/DS00357/DSECTION=symptoms

http://cancer.about.com/od/pancreaticcancer/a/pancreaticsympt.htm

http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/297/3/330