Pancreatic cancer

[David Forfar]

If you are type 2 well controlled is there a big risk of Pancreatic cancer.I have heard of a few well know personalities dying of Pancreatic cancer and when you look at causes it mentions Diabetes.I recently lost an uncle 92 who had a pace,alert and injections for diabetes for over 40 years including foot amputations cause of death Sepsis.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

I’m not aware of any increased risk of pancreatic cancer with T2 diabetes (though I’ve never gone looking for the information!).

The most commonly stated increases in risk with any form of diabetes are for heart disease, circulatory problems, eye damage, kidneys and nerves.

 

[mikeyB]

There is no big risk factor in developing pancreatic cancer. There are a lot of factors that can make it slightly more likely, two of which are smoking and obesity. Chronic pancreatitis, which I and some other members suffer from, increases the chance by around 4%, but the absolute risk is small.

The risk from diabetes is the same as the rest of the population. There are around 10,000 new cases every year. That’s about 3% of any cancer diagnosis. Given the 4.5m cases of T2 diabetes there are bound to be some T2 diabetics who get it, but it’s nowt to do with the diabetes, it’s just statistics. For the same reasons, folk with brown eyes are 9 times more likely to develop pancreatic cancer, but that’s only because 10% or so of the population have blue eyes.

For further reassurance, this has actually been looked at by scientists, and they haven’t been able to demonstrate any link.

 

[Endless Knot]

My recent experience of Type 2 and Pancreatic Cancer leads me to speculate that an issue could be a GP failing to see beyond Diabetes as the cause of an unusual rise in the HB1AC figure. Pancreatic Cancer, as I now know, is notoriously difficult to diagnose in its early stages. For months I was treated for a Diabetes 'problem' despite me feeling strongly that it was something more that Diabetes, which was something I had always really well managed for 8 years. Ultimately I got the CT scans etc done and the Cancer was found and fortunately was at an operable state. The operation was done last November 2019 and my follow up Chemo starts in 2 weeks. Needless to say the loss of most of my Pancreas has now caused chaos with my Diabetes! My message would be if your readings become high for no apparent reason and there is no change in life style (diet, exercise etc) then insist on further investigations.

 

[PhoebeC]

@Endless Knot hope you’re okay x

 

[Endless Knot]

Hi PhoebeC, thanks for your concern, I'm generally OK. Certainly while in hospital it was clear to me that having well managed diabetes had led to an earlier diagnosis of the cancer and hence less drastic surgery - because I 'knew' something was right. Pancreatic cancer is frequently only diagnosed when a patient has to go to A&E by which time it's so advanced treatment options may only be palliative or very major surgery. Look up Whipple's procedure to see how major. In contrast I've lost 'only' most of my pancreas and all my spleen, so actually in contrast to other chaps who were in the ward, I'm more than generally OK! An unexpected benefit of T2.
Ps there is obviously no scientific rationale to my analysis, its just my opinion!

 

[Thebearcametoo]

Glad it was found early Endless. My only knowledge of pancreatic cancer is that as you say it’s often only diagnosed very late and so treatment is difficult so I’m glad yours was found when it was. Hope your continued treatment goes well.

 

[KARNAK]

Hi @Endless Knot so sorry you have been through this procedure but welcome to the forum, please keep in touch we are all rooting for you.