Diabetics May Have Hidden Pancreatic Cancer

[kerouac2]

Source: The Diabetic News

It has long been thought that the incretin therapies could promote the occurrence of pancreatic cancer.

Patients and their doctors should be aware that the onset of diabetes, or a rapid deterioration in existing diabetes that requires more aggressive treatment, could be a sign of early, hidden pancreatic cancer, according to research presented at the European Cancer Congress 2017.

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Because of their stimulating effects on the pancreas, it has long been thought that the incretin therapies could promote the occurrence of pancreatic cancer.

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Read more: http://thediabeticnews.com/sign-diabetic-pancreatic-cancer/

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Scary to say the least.

[dixiegrrrrl]

1. So the treatment for type 2 diabetes could be creating pancreatic cancer?????????? n/t

[TreasonousBastard]

2. Not really-- from the story, it appears more likely that undiagnosed pancreatic cancer...

is the cause of type 2 diabetes. When the diabetes gets bad enough to demand more aggressive therapies, it's often the previously hidden cancer causing it.

So, it looks like the therapy caused the cancer, but it's really the other way around.

[dixiegrrrrl]

8. ty for that clarification.....

My brain was too full when I first read the story.

[Granny M]

3. Possibly "reverse causation"

as it says further down in the article. They just don't know yet. What is really needed is a way of diagnosing pancreatic cancer in its early, unsymptomatic stage. Hopeful that the research on the blood biomarkers will pan out.

When we lived in Holland for a few years, one of our neighbours, a trim, active, previously healthy man, was diagnosed with diabetes. In a few months he got very ill (blamed it initially on eating the traditional New Year's oliebollen). Pancreatic cancer was diagnosed and he was gone in a matter of weeks. I always thought that cancer was probably there before the diabetes diagnosis.

[pnwmom]

4. This is what happened to my grandmother. My father said she had a sudden,

severe case of diabetes -- that turned out to be the onset of pancreatic cancer.

I never knew her because she died at the age of 56, a couple years before I was born.

[central scrutinizer]

5. My wife is another example

She was healthy and we eat a good diet with little sugar. She went in for her annual exam a couple of years ago and the blood work came back as prediabetic. We changed our diet even more to try to keep it from getting worse and she started monitoring her blood sugar. A little later she developed some pains in her back and went back to the doctor. More blood work appeared to show that her organs were okay. She was relieved, believing that these tests meant that it wasn't cancer. Tried physical therapy and yoga and got some relief. Pain persisted. MRI showed possible arthritis in her spine. Pain meds and muscle relaxers started. Pain persisted. Finally got approval from insurance for CT scan which was done last April 15. Stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Inoperable. She is in hospice care now, don't know how much time is left.

She asked every doctor, "was the prediabetes caused by the tumor?" Some said likely, others waffled, probably scared of malpractice for not insisting on the CT scan much earlier.

She is covered by a plan we got through the ACA five months before the cancer diagnosis. In the good old days (when America was great!) she would have been denied coverage because of the normal two year exclusionary policy for pre-existing conditions. We would be bankrupt and homeless but we would have done our part to make America great again!

[Bayard]

10. So sorry scrutinizer

Any way to come back on the insurance company? Even though it doesn't help your pain.

[Coventina]

6. Wow! Very scary!! n/t

[kimbutgar]

7. My boss became a diabetic rather suddenly and then died of pancreatic cancer 6 months later

[dhill926]

9. this is really good to know....