On call: Pancreatic cancer prevention
Early on, cancer of the pancreas is clinically silent. Later, patients may develop back pain, abdominal pain, weakness, weight loss, depression, or jaundice. Imaging studies such as ultrasounds, CTs, and magnetic resonance imaging scans may detect abnormal tissue in the pancreas, but a definite diagnosis depends on a biopsy. Unfortunately, imaging studies are not sensitive enough or specific enough to be useful for screening, and the CA19-9 blood test that is sometimes used to check for the disease is even less reliable.
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