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By the year 2030, pancreatic and liver cancers will be the second and third deadliest cancers
in the U.S., according to new research.
"Pancreatic and liver cancers will jump to the second and third spots, surpassing breast,
prostate and colorectal cancers. These estimates are due to changes in demographics." (Via
WEAU)
"Experts say pancreatic cancer is difficult to treat because it's located deep in the
abdomen and tumors often spread early on in the disease." (Via KOB-TV)
And a writer for Time echoes that, saying: "There are no strong, reliable ways to detect
pancreatic tumors because the organ lies so deep inside the body. ... Most cases are not
diagnosed until the advanced stages, when surgery and other treatments are no longer
effective."
Pancreatic cancer got some heightened publicity in 2011 when Apple CEO and co-founder Steve
Jobs died from a rare form of the disease. He was diagnosed in 2003. (Via ZDNet)
In a 2011 article, Scientific American pointed out just how deadly the disease is and how
Jobs was able to battle it for so long. "Most pancreatic cancers (53 percent) are diagnosed
after they have spread—and those have an exceedingly low survival rate, with just 1.8
percent of patients living for more than five years after diagnosis. ... Jobs had a rare
form of the cancer, known as neuroendocrine cancer, which grows more slowly and is easier
to treat."
But Monday there was some good news out of the medical community studying pancreatic
cancer.
University Herald reports researchers from San Diego State University have found a swab
of your mouth could help detect pancreatic cancer early. They say patients with the cancer
had higher levels of two types of oral bacteria.
Lung cancer is currently the leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Researchers expect
that to stay the same.