Tag Archives: abdominal pain

Let’s talk about Pancreatic cancer

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November is Pancreatic cancer awareness month

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November is Pancreatic cancer awareness month.  Did you know that Pancreatic cancer is the 4th leading cause of cancer related death in the US?

Here are some more facts about Pancreatic cancer:

  • 94% of people with pancreatic cancer will die within 5 years of being diagnosed.
  • Only 7 % will survive more than five years.
  • About 48,960 people will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer this year in the US.

Here are some risk factors for developing pancreatic cancer:

  • being a tobacco smoker
  • being overweight
  • having a family history of pancreatic cancer
  • having diabetes
  • having chronic pancreatitis (chronic inflammation of the pancreas)
  • having cirrhosis of the liver
  • stomach problems
  • being obese
  • working in a workplace that causes exposure to dyes, chemicals or pesticides

*Please note that having one or more risk factors doesn’t mean that you will develop pancreatic cancer, it just means that you have a possible higher chance.  Some people have pancreatic cancer without any of the above mentioned factors.

Here are some signs of pancreatic cancer:

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If you have any symptoms of pancreatic cancer, please consult your physician.

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July is Sarcoma awareness month

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Did you know that July is Sarcoma awareness month?  Here are some facts about Sarcoma:

  • Sarcoma is a rare cancer.  It affects 1% of adult cancers.
  • It is more common in children and it accounts for 15% of childhood cancers.
  • Sarcoma is a cancer that affects the connective tissues of the body (tendons, muscles, fat cells, blood vessels, bones, cartilage, and synovial fluid (in joints)
  • The term “sarcoma” encompasses over 40 different tumor types.

signs

Here are some signs of Sarcoma:

  • A lump that has grown over the past weeks and/or months
  • Abdominal pain that doesn’t go away
  • Black tarry stools
  • Blood in stools or vomit

Keep in mind that even if you have 1 or all of these signs, doesn’t mean that you have Sarcoma.  It does mean that you should be checked out by your physician.