Prostate Restored
Photo by Klaus Nielsen Pexels Logo Photo: Klaus Nielsen

Which cancer is the hardest to detect early?

Pancreatic cancer is hard to find early. The pancreas is deep inside the body, so early tumors can't be seen or felt by health care providers during routine physical exams. People usually have no symptoms until the cancer has become very large or has already spread to other organs.

What is the latest treatment for prostate?
What is the latest treatment for prostate?

The FDA-approved drug, called Pluvicto (lutetium Lu 177 vipivotide tetraxetan), is a new radiation pharmaceutical that is administered through...

Read More »
Why doesn t Mayo Clinic accept Medicare?
Why doesn t Mayo Clinic accept Medicare?

That's right, for every patient over age 65, it costs the hospital more to deliver care than the government reimburses. That is why Mayo Clinic has...

Read More »

Can Pancreatic Cancer Be Found Early?

Pancreatic cancer is hard to find early. The pancreas is deep inside the body, so early tumors can’t be seen or felt by health care providers during routine physical exams. People usually have no symptoms until the cancer has become very large or has already spread to other organs. For certain types of cancer, screening tests or exams are used to look for cancer in people who have no symptoms (and who have not had that cancer before). But for pancreatic cancer, no major professional groups currently recommend routine screening in people who are at average risk. This is because no screening test has been shown to lower the risk of dying from this cancer.

Genetic testing for people who might be at increased risk

Some people might be at increased risk of pancreatic cancer because of a family history of the disease (or a family history of certain other cancers). Sometimes this increased risk is due to a specific genetic syndrome. Genetic testing looks for the gene changes that cause these inherited conditions and increase pancreatic cancer risk. The tests look for these inherited conditions, not pancreatic cancer itself. Your risk may be increased if you have one of these conditions, but it doesn’t mean that you have (or definitely will get) pancreatic cancer. Knowing if you are at increased risk can help you and your doctor decide if you should have tests to look for pancreatic cancer early, when it might be easier to treat. But determining whether you might be at increased risk is not simple. The American Cancer Society strongly recommends that anyone thinking about genetic testing talk with a genetic counselor, nurse, or doctor (qualified to interpret and explain the test results) before getting tested. It’s important to understand what the tests can − and can’t − tell you, and what any results might mean, before deciding to be tested.

Testing for pancreatic cancer in people at high risk

For people in families at high risk of pancreatic cancer, newer tests for detecting pancreatic cancer early may help. The two most common tests used are an endoscopic ultrasound or MRI. (See Tests for Pancreatic Cancer.) These tests are not used to screen the general public, but might be used for someone with a strong family history of pancreatic cancer or with a known genetic syndrome that increases their risk. Doctors have been able to find early, treatable pancreatic cancers in some members of high-risk families with these tests. Doctors are also studying other new tests to try to find pancreatic cancer early. (See What's New in Pancreatic Cancer Research?) Interested families at high risk may wish to take part in studies of these new screening tests.

What foods are hard on the liver?
What foods are hard on the liver?

Avoid when possible Alcohol. Alcohol can be a major cause of fatty liver disease as well as other liver diseases. Added sugar. Stay away from...

Read More »
Does milk thistle increase estrogen?
Does milk thistle increase estrogen?

Milk thistle might decrease the effects of medications providing estrogen by blocking how estrogen works in the body.

Read More »

How often do cancers return?

Some cancers come back only once, while others reappear two or three times. But some recurrent cancers might never go away or be cured. This sounds scary, but many people can live months or years with the right treatment. For them, the cancer becomes more like a chronic illness, such as diabetes or heart disease.

Sometimes, cancer can come back after you've had treatment. This is what doctors call a recurrence. It's different from a new cancer. And it can show up anywhere in your body. Experts usually consider it a recurrence if your cancer returns after you've had no signs of the disease for at least a year. Cancers can recur several times, and in some cases, might not ever go away for good. While it's normal to feel scared, surprised, or sad when you hear "You have cancer" again, many treatments are available to help recurrent cancers. Why Cancer Comes Back The simplest explanation is that the treatment you had before didn't destroy all the cancer cells in your body. Even very small cells that were left behind can grow into tumors over time. That doesn't mean you got the wrong treatment. Cancer cells are tricky, and some can survive aggressive therapies. It only takes a few cells. What Recurrence Means Cancer recurrence means the cancer you originally had has come back. It can develop in the same place it started or in a new part of your body.

What does watery sperm mean?
What does watery sperm mean?

low sperm count Watery semen can be a sign of low sperm count, indicating possible fertility problems. Ejaculating thin, clear semen may also be a...

Read More »
What age do men need prostate checked?
What age do men need prostate checked?

While the general guidelines recommend starting at age 55, you may need PSA screening between the ages of 40 and 54 if you: Have at least one...

Read More »
What are the effects of a sexless marriage?
What are the effects of a sexless marriage?

Anxiety, stress, and depression are also common sexless marriage effects on the husband. When a husband is denied sex at home for a long time, his...

Read More »
Can uric acid return to normal?
Can uric acid return to normal?

Reducing the levels of uric acid prevents new crystals from forming. It also slowly dissolves the crystals that are already there. It can take up...

Read More »