Further Association Between Diabetes and Pancreatic Cancer, Found
According to a new Mayo Clinic study, 40 percent of pancreatic cancer patients are diagnosed with diabetes prior to their pancreatic cancer diagnosis.
The onset of diabetes appears to be many months (in some cases up to two years) prior to cancer diagnosis.
The said study, providing new evidence to the diabetes-pancreatic cancer association – was published in the January 2008 issue of Gastroenterology.
According to Suresh Chari, M.D., a Mayo Clinic gastroenterologist and the study’s lead author:
“Our previous studies have shown an association between recent diagnoses of diabetes and pancreatic cancer. We are now quite convinced that in most patients with pancreatic cancer the diabetes is caused by the cancer and not the other way around.
Our next step is to identify a biomarker for pancreatic cancer-induced diabetes in order to screen patients with new-onset diabetes for early pancreatic cancer and provide surgical treatment as quickly as possible.”
Pancreatic cancer is the fourth-leading cause of cancer death in the United States, it often do not exhibit specific symptoms until the cancer is already in the advanced state.
Thus, the findings above is an important clue for earlier detection of pancreatic cancer.
Find more details from PRNewswire.
Tags: diabetes, pancreatic cancer detection, pancretic cancerRelated Stories
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5 opinions for Further Association Between Diabetes and Pancreatic Cancer, Found
Trisha
Feb 1, 2008 at 10:44 am
Duh! I can’t believe it took them this long to figure that out! Its what my dad died from nearly 4 years ago and yes, his blood sugar was high over a year before he was diagnosed with cancer. It was months before it was even made an issue and then it was just decided he was a diabetic and put him on a diet. A few months later he was experiencing pain and losing lots of weight and after taking their time testing him for various things they finally discovered he had pancreatic cancer. Of course it was too late then. It seems doctors should have been able to suspect it was something more serious way before that. And it seems they should have at least had a hunch that sometimes diabetes is a sign of cancer and have checked it right away.
Gloria
Feb 1, 2008 at 2:10 pm
even though cancer science has advanced tremendously, it is frustrating when stuff comes out too late. let’s just say the other people will benefit in the future.
Michele
Feb 5, 2008 at 2:35 am
i find this very interesting because my grandmother was a diabetic for many years. Within the last year of her life she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Good to know there is a scientific correlation.
Julie
Feb 12, 2008 at 3:28 am
My son is 3yrs old… He was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes the week before last… My family and i are devastated… Does this mean i should ask his diabetes dr. To check for pancreatic cancer now? Or is it something else to look out for?
Gloria
Feb 12, 2008 at 8:38 am
might be a different case in type 1 and in children. but i guess it wouldn’t hurt to ask the diabetes dr. it is always better to look out for something that may not even be there than fail to look out and something’s already there. better be safe, Julie. ;-)
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