Did you know that pancreatic cancer is one of the tumors that cause the most deaths? The usual reason is its difficult diagnosis in early stages. Discover useful tips to prevent it.
The pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive in the world, making it the fifth leading cause of death in the world. And despite the fact that the field of oncology has taken very important steps when it comes to understanding this disease, there is still a very long way to go in this regard.
The worst of all is that it is in most cases it is very difficult to detect since it tends to develop in a very deep region of our body. This means that some medical tests cannot detect it in time, especially in its early stages of development.
Pancreatic cancer: symptoms and factors to consider
Once the first weeks have passed, a series of symptoms begin to appear, among which are fatigue, jaundice (yellowing of the eyes and skin) accompanied by vomiting and pain in the belly. It goes without saying that when any of these symptoms appear, it will be necessary to see a doctor as soon as possible.
Although it is a disease that can sometimes appear without warning, there are a series of risk factors that can lead to the appearance of a tumor in the pancreas. And from the following lines we will make a brief summary of them:
- Obesity. Those who eat a diet rich in fat and carbohydrates are more prone to pancreatic cancer. Especially if at the same time they lead a very sedentary life. The probabilities increase even more when one reaches an age period between 45-55 years.
- It has also been shown that those who suffer from diabetes have twice the chance of contracting pancreatic cancer.
- Smoking. Tobacco use can also be closely related to the development of pancreatic cancer. In fact, 30% of patients who have been diagnosed with this disease were habitual tobacco users.
How can we prevent pancreatic cancer?
Now that we have known some of the factors and symptoms of pancreatic cancer, through this last section we are going to give a series of guidelines that although they will not be able to eradicate it, they can help you when it comes to preventing it.
Give up alcohol and tobacco
As we discussed in the first part of the article, excessive consumption of alcohol and tobacco can cause us to be more exposed to pancreatic cancer. This is because both substances promote the secretion of free radicals, a compound that is closely related to the appearance of tumors of this type.
Healthy and balanced diet
A balanced diet rich in all kinds of nutrients also plays a very important role in preventing pancreatic cancer. In this sense, we must promote the consumption of organic food, while avoiding the intake of too much red meat.
All this accompanied by fruits and vegetables with a high content of vitamin A in fiber, in order to promote proper digestion. Likewise, it is recommended to eat foods rich in folic acid (such as avocados and strawberries).
Half an hour of daily exercise
Leaving aside a sedentary life is also very relevant if you want to prevent pancreatic cancer. Therefore, it is worth doing at least 30 minutes of daily exercise, in order to take care of our line at the same time and not suffer from diabetes. Going for a run, walking or going out with the bicycle will be more than enough.
