A leading cancer surgeon has urged Brits to notice three early warning signs of a “silent killer” cancer. Dr Ahmed Ezzat warned that people should not ignore these subtle signs as pancreatic cancer has “some of the poorest outcomes of all cancers”.
The surgeon shared the now viral video on TikTok in the hopes of securing earlier diagnoses, as current data shows it is one of the most aggressive cancers. According to Pancreatic Cancer UK, it has the lowest survival of all common cancers, with a five-year survival rate of less than 7%.
He said: “Less than 10 per cent of all patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer will make it to 10 years after diagnosis. Let’s do something about it.”
A subtle sign that Dr Ezzat highlighted was low blood sugar levels, which can present itself in erratic hunger pangs. He also said people may develop type 2 diabetes, or existing diabetics may suddenly notice blood sugars becoming poorly controlled.
He explained: “This is because the pancreas produces insulin, which is responsible for regulating your blood sugar. If you notice this symptom, then you need to make sure you get investigated urgently by your GP.”
Insulin helps convert sugar from food into energy, and pancreatic cancer can inhibit the gland from making enough of these hormones which can lead to unstable blood sugar levels.
Another sign the medic highlighted was unexplained abdominal or back pain, which the NHS says may feel worse when lying down or eating, and may ease when you lean forward.
Dr Ezzat said: “If you notice signs of abdominal aches or back pain then this is really important to get investigated by your GP because this could be a sign of pancreatic cancer.”
The final subtle sign to be aware of was jaundice. The medic explained the yellowing is most easily noticed in the whites of the eyes.
There are a lot of possible causes of jaundice – often caused by a build of a yellow substance called bilirubin in the body—including liver disease or cancer.
Early diagnosis is crucial because four in five people with pancreatic cancer are currently diagnosed at a late stage three or four, when the survival rates are lower.
The one-year survival rate in those diagnosed at an early stage is six times higher than those diagnosed at stage four.
Symptoms of indigestion, such as feeling bloated, are also a red flag according to Pancreatic Cancer UK, as well as unexplained weight loss, loss of appetite, feeling or being sick, getting blood clots in a vein, and fatigue.
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
