Skip to content

News

Tag: pancreatic cysts

Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month: Let’s Work Together to Diagnose Cancer Faster

purple-cellvizio-pancreatic-cancer-awareness-nov2014
Photo Credit: @ElementalHCare

Pancreatic cancer is often found late and spreads quickly. This makes it difficult to treat – it’s predicted to become the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States by 2030.i  The American Cancer Society estimates about 46,000 people will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the US in 2014.ii

Cancerous pancreatic cysts are hard to catch because they often don’t cause any early symptoms, but improvements in imaging technology are helping physicians find these cysts more frequently. We believe not knowing the nature of a pancreatic cyst may soon become a thing of the past. And improved awareness and better funding will only help physicians diagnose cancer faster.

This November, Mauna Kea Technologies is joining tens of thousands of people around the world in recognizing Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month and the first ever World Pancreatic Cancer Day on November 13th.

International non-profit organizations including the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network in the US and Pancreatic Cancer Action in the UK are coming together to raise awareness, improve research funding, and provide support for individuals and families living with the disease.

Purple Selfie Image
Photo Credit: @ElementalHCare

Here are a few ways you can get involved and show your support this month:

  • Wear purple!

Pancreatic Cancer Action Network has organized “Purple for a Purpose” for World Pancreatic Cancer Day. Celebrities, media influencers, on-air talent and other supporters will wear purple to raise awareness.

  • Use social media!

Pancreatic Cancer Action is asking individuals to take and share a #purplepselfie on social media.

Pancreatic Cancer Action Network invites you to join the “Wage Hope” campaign this month by visiting www.facebook.com/jointhefight and following @PanCAN on Twitter. Actions include changing Facebook profiles and cover photos and sharing and retweeting content.

i Rahib, Lola. “Projecting Cancer Incidence and Deaths to 2030: The Unexpected Burden of Thyroid, Liver, and Pancreas Cancers in the United States.” Cancer Research. Published online May 19, 2014. http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/early/2014/03/25/0008-5472.CAN-14-0155.full.pdf+html.

ii American Cancer Society. “What are the key statistics about pancreatic cancer?” June 11, 2014. http://www.cancer.org/cancer/pancreaticcancer/detailedguide/pancreatic-cancer-key-statistics.

The Healthiest Nuts For Pancreatic Cyst Prevention

Link Between Pancreatic Cancer and Nuts
In a recent study by Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School1 it was determined that there is an association between an increase in nut consumption and a decreased risk of pancreatic cysts and cancer.
The study shows that eating a one-ounce serving of nuts at least twice a week decreases your chance of developing a pancreatic pseudocysts, or cancerous cysts.

Five Healthiest Nuts

Here are a few of the healthiest nuts to have for your go-to afternoon snack:

1. Almonds

Almonds are considered a super food because they’re high in Vitamin E, fiber, calcium, zinc and folic acid. They are the most nutrient-dense nut and a tasty snack!

2. Walnuts

Walnuts contain the highest amount of antioxidants. Not only can they help protect you against pancreatic cancer, but they also lower your risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

3. Cashews

Cashews are a great source of magnesium, calcium, vitamin B and folic acid. They also contain twice as much iron as ground beef.

4. Pecans

Pecans are antixodant-rich, making them powerful in protecting you against cancer, Alzheimer’s disease and heart disease.

5. Brazil Nuts

Studies show that Brazil Nuts can protect you against certain cancers, skin disorders and anxiety. Due to the high selenium content, consuming Brazil Nuts even help reduce asthma.
1. Bao Y, Hu FB, Giovannucci EL, Wolpin BM, Stampfer MJ, Willett WC, Fuchs CS. “Nut consumption and risk of pancreatic cancer in women.” PubMed. 26 Nov 2013. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24149179.

Early Detection of Pancreatic Cysts with Cellvizio

Pancreatic cysts and pancreatic cancer can be difficult to diagnose in its early stages.
Because pancreatic cancer can spread rapidly, early detection and diagnosis is vital. According to the National Cancer Data Base1, the five year survival rate of people being diagnosed with Stage IIA pancreatic cancer is only seven percent. However, for those who are able to diagnose the existence of cancerous pancreatic cysts at Stage IA have a 14 percent five year survival rate. 1

What are Pancreatic Cysts?

Pancreatic cysts are fluid-filled sacs within your pancreas, a large organ behind the stomach that produces the hormones and enzymes that help digest food. Most pancreatic cysts are not cancerous and only cause mild systems such as:

  • Persistent abdominal and back pain
  • A mass in your upper abdomen that you are able to feel
  • Nausea
  • Jaundice

Because pancreatic cancer often goes undetected, once pancreatic cysts are found a physician may need to biopsy the cysts to check for pre-cancerous and cancerous cells.

How Can I Diagnose Pancreatic Cysts?

Diagnosing cancerous pancreatic cysts is becoming easier because of the improvements in imaging technology.
Cellvizio Targeted Biopsy utilizes the world’s smallest microscope and laser imaging technology in conjunction with today’s endoscopic instruments to examine tissues at a microscopic level.

How is Cellvizio Different Than Other Diagnostic Methods?

Cellvizio enables physicians to visualize the wall of the cyst at the cellular level, making an early cancer diagnosis possible.
Other benefits of Cellvizio Targeted Biopsy include:

  • Timely decision making for the physician
  • Immediate tissue characterization
  • Immediate cell characterization
  • Ability to start treatment early if the cysts is cancerous

Is Cellvizio the Right Procedure for You?

If you need to confirm a diagnosis of pancreatic cysts, contact your physician to find out if Cellvizio Targeted Biopsy is the right procedure for you.

Sources:

  1. http://www.cancer.org/cancer/pancreaticcancer/overviewguide/pancreatic-cancer-overview-survival-rates

 

Cellvizio Targeted Biopsy helped Niloofar Shamloo to go back to her painting with peace of mind

Niloofar Shamloo is a painter who suddenly fell ill. She was diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease ulcerative colitis. But doctors feared it could be the sign of something even worse, like pancreatic cancer. Using a confocal endomicroscope, doctors were able to give her a clean bill of health without having to resort to an laboratory invasive biopsy. With Cellvizio Targeted Biopsy, Niloofar Shamloo was able to go back to her painting with peace of mind.
Read more about her experience and watch a video of her story.