Recent statistics released by Cancer Research UK (CRUK) have revealed a concerning trend: an increase in cases of pancreatic cancer diagnosed in women. The data, obtained by comparing incidences of pancreatic cancer in the UK over two three-year periods (1993-95 and 2016-18), paints a worrying picture of rising rates of the disease, particularly among younger women.
According to the figures, rates of pancreatic cancer in women aged 25 to 49 have seen a notable increase of 34 percent. Pancreatic cancer, known for its alarmingly low five-year survival rate of just 5 percent, ranks as the ninth most common cancer in the UK. CRUK’s data indicates approximately 5,100 new cases of pancreatic cancer diagnosed each year between 2016 and 2018, marking an overall increase of 17 percent compared to 1993-1995. This translates to approximately 17 people out of every 100,000 being diagnosed with the disease annually.
Of particular concern is the slight increase observed in pancreatic cancer diagnoses among women under 25 and children. While this demographic typically experiences low rates of pancreatic cancer, this recent uptick raises questions and underscores the need for further investigation.
Experts speculate that soaring obesity rates may be contributing to this concerning trend. Professor Karol Sikora, a renowned oncologist with over 40 years of experience, suggests that changes in dietary habits over the past two decades may play a role in the rise of pancreatic cancer diagnoses. However, researchers remain uncertain about the exact cause of this spike, leaving the medical community with more questions than answers.
Often referred to as a ‘silent killer’ due to its less overt symptoms, pancreatic cancer is frequently diagnosed in its advanced stages, leading to its devastating toll on lives. With approximately 10,000 deaths attributed to pancreatic cancer annually in the UK – equating to one death every hour – the urgency of addressing this disease cannot be overstated.
While CRUK’s data paints a grim picture of pancreatic cancer survival rates, with only five percent of patients surviving for 10 years or more, projections indicate a further rise in incidence rates in the coming years. This underscores the critical need for increased awareness, research, and intervention strategies to combat this deadly disease.
In England, pancreatic cancer incidence rates vary across ethnic groups, with lower rates observed in individuals from Asian, mixed, or multiple ethnicity backgrounds, and higher rates in the Black ethnic group compared to the White ethnic group.
Known risk factors for pancreatic cancer include smoking and obesity, highlighting the importance of addressing these modifiable risk factors to mitigate the burden of the disease.
Nicola Smith, senior health information manager at Cancer Research UK, emphasized the need for further research to understand the factors contributing to the rise in pancreatic cancer diagnoses among women. With symptoms often absent in the early stages, increased awareness and vigilance are crucial in detecting pancreatic cancer early and improving outcomes for patients.
Symptoms of pancreatic cancer, as outlined by CRUK, include abdominal or back pain, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes), unexplained weight loss, and changes in stool. Given the critical role of the pancreas in digestion, any concerning symptoms should prompt timely medical evaluation to facilitate early detection and treatment.
