A close friend survived the brink of death after being diagnosed with long-term secluded pancreatic cancer.

Long-term hidden pancreatic cancer is said to be difficult to detect early.

Be sure to familiarize yourself with the symptoms of pancreatic cancer, and if you experience similar symptoms, make sure to go to the hospital immediately for a check-up. Early detection is the only answer.

Don't neglect your health check-up.

[if !supportEmptyParas] 

 

 

I recently heard that my close younger friend, who was battling pancreatic cancer, has returned to work.

My younger sibling, who got married after turning 40, has been trying to have a child at all costs, but since they haven't been able to, they've been continuously trying IVF. I was feeling sorry for them when I heard that.

Suddenly last year, I heard you were seriously ill somewhere, and we lost contact.

I also took a leave from work, lost contact with all the people I used to be close with, and disappeared...

I'm really worried, but they don't answer the phone, and even when I send KakaoTalk or text messages, I get no reply...

I was hospitalized, so I wanted to visit and see how you were doing, but since you didn't answer, I have no way to contact you..

Finally, after about a year and six months, I received a message from my younger sibling.

You have returned to work and your health has improved, so you contacted me saying you want to see my face. Sorry I couldn't get in touch all this time.

We met on the street, and at first I didn't even recognize him. He had lost so much weight, and his hair looked awkward, like a wig or something... I almost started crying.

[if !supportEmptyParas] [endif]

They were laughing and saying they thought they were going to die, but they came back alive, and my heart was so hurt.

They said she lost 20 kg. The chemotherapy is finally over, and now she has lost weight, feeling like she's living a second life. Although follow-up tests need to continue, the worrying stage is now over.

But now I have given up on the baby... Phew...

[if !supportEmptyParas] [endif]

Pancreatic cancer is a tumor made up of cancer cells that develop in the pancreas.

It occurs in men and women over 40, but it's more common in men. The younger sibling I know is a woman, though...

 

The symptoms of pancreatic cancer vary depending on the location and extent of metastasis, but fundamentally, pain appears in the upper abdomen. The problem is that in the early stages, symptoms are vague and not easily noticeable, making early detection difficult.

My younger sibling is a friend who used to eat very well, but recently lost their appetite and had trouble digesting, so I thought their stomach might be upset. However, the school nurse who works with them said that their complexion and eyes looked somewhat jaundiced and advised that it would be good to visit a hospital, so they went to the hospital for the first time.

 

After visiting a small internal medicine clinic for a first consultation, I was told that my symptoms seemed to be worsening and was advised to go to a larger hospital. I went there and underwent a CT scan and other tests, but at that time, it was not diagnosed as pancreatic cancer; it seemed to be an issue on the duodenal side, and I was receiving treatment. I thought it was nothing serious.

However, as the pain gradually worsened and I became unable to eat, I underwent several tests at the hospital again, and a tumor was discovered. It was decided that surgery with an incision was necessary to obtain an accurate diagnosis, and it was revealed that I have pancreatic cancer after the incision.

I was a bit scared that even during the tests at the large hospital, the cancer wasn't immediately detected...

Cancer was only discovered after going through all sorts of tests and procedures, and enduring a lot of hardship.

[if !supportEmptyParas] [endif]

Since pancreatic cancer rarely shows characteristic symptoms until it has progressed significantly, early diagnosis is difficult, and by the time of diagnosis, it has already infiltrated major surrounding organs in only about 20% of cases, making surgery possible. According to my younger sibling, fortunately, the tumor was found in the most resectable part of the pancreas, which allowed for survival... It makes me think how fleeting human life is.

[if !supportEmptyParas] [endif]

Fortunately, the tumor was removed through surgery, but I also had to undergo radiation therapy. I felt so proud and touched by my younger sibling who endured such unimaginable treatment, and my heart felt heavy.

I can't imagine a life where I only go back and forth between the hospital and home, cutting off contact with people for a year and six months.

It must have been difficult with the pain, but how lonely, scared, and hard it must have been...

 

In fact, the factors that cause pancreatic cancer have not yet been clearly identified.

 

1. Genetic mutations / 2. Aging / 3. Chronic pancreatitis / 4. Familial pancreatitis / 5. Habit of consuming greasy or excessive amounts of meat / 6. Smoking and frequent heavy drinking

It seems that none of this applies to my younger sibling, so is it just really luck??

 

Among them, chronic pancreatitis is said to increase the risk of pancreatic cancer by eight times.

Please make sure to read the shared symptoms of pancreatitis.

 

 

[if !supportEmptyParas]   

 

 

The role of the pancreas is to secrete pancreatic juice that contains digestive enzymes to digest food and to produce and regulate insulin that controls blood sugar levels.

It is said to be a highly lethal cancer with a very low survival rate, where 9 out of 10 people die. It is so deadly that surgery is only possible if detected at stages 1 or 2.

[if !supportEmptyParas] [endif]

Symptoms of pancreatic cancer

Jaundice occurs, urine turns dark, and there is pain extending from the sternum to the back, along with frequent lower back pain.

And suddenly losing weight and not having diabetes, but there are also symptoms where diabetes suddenly develops.

 

The quieter the organs, the more often I think they need to be suspected and examined.

I plan to see my younger sibling who returned from the brink of death more often and take better care of them.

 

Pancreatic cancer is a frightening disease, but it is treatable, so do not delay your health check-ups. If you are sick, do not endure it; make sure to visit the hospital.

[if !supportEmptyParas] [endif]