The pancreas is an organ with two vital functions:
- Producing digestive enzymes to aid in food digestion
- Producing hormones such as insulin and glucagon to regulate blood sugar levels
Risk Factors for Pancreatic Cancer
- Genetic mutations, which account for approximately 10% of cases
- Cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption
- Accumulation of heavy metals in the body
- Exposure to certain chemicals such as benzidine, benzene, pesticides, asbestos, and chlorinated hydrocarbons (e.g., DDT)
- Chronic pancreatitis
- Abnormally high body mass index (BMI)
- Excessive consumption of processed foods or red meats, which may increase the risk of pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic Cancer Screening
- Screening is generally not recommended for asymptomatic individuals.
- Exceptions apply to those with a family history of inherited genetic syndromes (e.g., first-degree relatives such as parents, siblings, or children).
Standard Treatment Approaches (Depending on Cancer Stage)
- Surgery
- Radiation therapy
- Chemotherapy
- Immunotherapy
- Targeted therapy combined with chemotherapy
Integrative and Complementary Therapies
- Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy: Helps reduce tumor hypoxia, enhances the effectiveness of certain chemotherapeutic agents (e.g., gemcitabine), and alleviates fatigue associated with anemia caused by the disease or treatment.
- Local or Systemic Hyperthermia: Used alongside chemotherapy to improve efficacy.
- Photodynamic Therapy (PDT): Uses light or laser with specific wavelengths to activate drugs that selectively destroy abnormal cells, often used in conjunction with oxygen therapy.
- Ozone Therapy: Stimulates immune function, enhances treatment outcomes, and helps suppress viral infections. It also promotes antioxidant production in the body. A possible side effect is a Herxheimer reaction (fever, headache, rash), which is temporary and manageable.
- Nutritional Support: Ensuring adequate nutrition during hospital treatment and incorporating suitable exercise regimens to maintain strength and improve treatment outcomes.
- Acupuncture and Injection Therapy: May help reduce certain treatment side effects such as fatigue, breathlessness, or hot flashes from hormone therapies.
Natural Products Potentially Beneficial for Pancreatic Cancer
- Botanical/Herbal Compounds: Curcumin, Cordyceps, Triptolide, decaffeinated green tea EGCG, soy genistein, modified citrus pectin, milk thistle, and others
- Vitamins: Vitamin A, B-complex, and C
- https://www.cancer.gov/types/pancreatic/patient/pancreatic-treatment-pdq
- https://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/pdf/pancreatic.pdf
- Kim A, Ha J, Kim J, Cho Y, Ahn J, Cheon C, Kim SH, Ko SG, Kim B. Natural Products for Pancreatic Cancer Treatment: From Traditional Medicine to Modern Drug Discovery. Nutrients. 2021 Oct 26;13(11):3801. doi: 10.3390/nu13113801. PMID: 34836055; PMCID: PMC8625071.
- He X, Wang N, Zhang Y, Huang X, Wang Y. The therapeutic potential of natural products for treating pancreatic cancer. Front Pharmacol. 2022 Nov 2;13:1051952. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2022.1051952. PMID: 36408249; PMCID: PMC9666876.
- Wang, Xiaoxian & Ye, Ningbing & Xu, Chen & Xiao, Chen & Zhang, Zhijie & Deng, Qingyuan & Li, Shiyou & Li, Jiayuan & Li, Zifu & Yang, Xiangliang. (2022). Hyperbaric oxygen regulates tumor mechanics and augments Abraxane and gemcitabine antitumor effects against pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma by inhibiting cancer-associated fibroblasts. Nano Today. 44. 101458. 10.1016/j.nantod.2022.101458.
- Wang Y, Wang H, Zhou L, Lu J, Jiang B, Liu C, Guo J. Photodynamic therapy of pancreatic cancer: Where have we come from and where are we going? Photodiagnosis Photodyn Ther. 2020 Sep;31:101876. doi: 10.1016/j.pdpdt.2020.101876. Epub 2020 Jun 10. PMID: 32534246.
- van der Horst A, Versteijne E, Besselink MGH, Daams JG, Bulle EB, Bijlsma MF, Wilmink JW, van Delden OM, van Hooft JE, Franken NAP, van Laarhoven HWM, Crezee J, van Tienhoven G. The clinical benefit of hyperthermia in pancreatic cancer: a systematic review. Int J Hyperthermia. 2018 Nov;34(7):969-979. doi: 10.1080/02656736.2017.1401126. Epub 2017 Nov 23. PMID: 29168401.
