Why is pancreatic cancer the king of cancer

Pancreatic cancer is known as the "king of cancers" mainly because it is difficult to detect in its early stages and has poor treatment effects. The high mortality rate of this cancer makes people full of awe for it.

1. Hidden early symptoms: The early symptoms of pancreatic cancer are usually very mild and can even be ignored. Many people may only feel mild abdominal discomfort or indigestion in the early stages, which can be easily confused with other common gastrointestinal problems. By the time the symptoms become obvious, the cancer has often developed to the middle or late stages.

2. Deep location, difficult to detect: The pancreas is located deep in the abdominal cavity and is surrounded by other organs, which makes it difficult to detect pancreatic abnormalities through routine physical examinations. Even imaging examinations may miss early tumor changes, increasing the difficulty of early diagnosis.

3. Limited treatment options: For pancreatic cancer patients, surgery is currently the most effective treatment, but only a very small number of patients are suitable for surgery when diagnosed. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy have limited effects and can only delay the progression of the disease in many cases. Pancreatic cancer is not as responsive to targeted therapy as other cancers.

4. High recurrence and metastasis rates: Even after surgical resection, the recurrence rate of pancreatic cancer is still very high. Pancreatic cancer cells are highly invasive and easily metastasize to other organs such as the liver and lungs, which is also an important reason for its high mortality rate.

5. Challenges of prevention and early screening: Since the risk factors of pancreatic cancer are complex, including smoking, obesity, diabetes, chronic pancreatitis, and family history, preventive measures targeting these factors are particularly important. However, there is currently a lack of effective early screening methods, which makes prevention work challenging.

6. Psychological support and care: When facing pancreatic cancer, patients and their families need not only medical support, but also psychological care. Providing psychological counseling, community support and nursing guidance can help patients better cope with the stress caused by the disease.

For pancreatic cancer, early detection is the key to improving prognosis. Regular physical examinations and attention to physical changes, especially those with a relevant family history, should be vigilant. A healthy lifestyle can also reduce the risk to a certain extent. Although pancreatic cancer is called the "king of cancer", we can still make progress in the fight against it through scientific prevention and reasonable treatment strategies.