Prostate-Specific Antigen Testing: Overview, Physiologic Characteristics of PSA, Other Prostate Cancer Markers
Pankaj Udhas Dies Of Pancreatic Cancer At 72: Top 7 Warning Symptoms Of Pancreatic Cancers In Men After 70
Pankaj Udhas Dies of Pancreatic Cancer At 72: Top 7 Warning Symptoms of Pancreatic Cancers In Men After 70 Pankaj Udhas Death Updates: Music maestro Pankaj Udhas succumbs to pancreatic cancer at the age of 72. Look out for these warning signs and symptoms of this silent cancer in men after 70.Pankaj Udhas Death News: Pankaj Udhas, the legendary Indian Ghazal singer breathed his last on Monday at the age of 72, after battling pancreatic cancer. This news has left his fans and the music industry in mourning. One of the most common, and dangerous forms of cancer in men is pancreatic cancer. It is known for its aggressive nature and called silent as the signs and symptoms associated with this often go undetected until it reaches advanced stages. Today, in this article, we highlight the importance of recognizing the warning signs of pancreatic cancer, especially for men over the age of 70.
Pankaj Udhas' Battle with Pancreatic Cancer: The 7 Major Warning Signs Men Over 70 Should Know AboutPankaj Udhas' death has once again heightened the urgent need to understand pancreatic cancer in men and spot the signs and symptoms in its early stages.
Abdominal Pain or DiscomfortOne tell-tale sign of pancreatic cancer is an enduring pain in your abdomen. This discomfort is typically focused in the upper belly area and can sometimes feel as if it's emanating from the back. Seeking guidance from a health expert is crucial if you're dealing with unceasing and unexplainable abdominal discomfort.
Unexpected Weight LossDropping weight without any adjusted dietary habits or exercise regimens can point to multiple health conditions, including pancreatic cancer. If you're losing weight for seemingly unexplainable reasons, promptly arrange a medical consultation.
Yellowish Skin or Eyes (Jaundice)Jaundice, a health scenario causing yellow skin and eyes, can result from pancreatic cancer if a tumor blocks the bile duct causing a bilirubin build-up. If you notice yellow skin or dark pee, immediately book an appointment with a health provider.
Change In The Colour of PoopChanges in the color of your poop can be an early warning sign of pancreatic cancer. Pale, oily, or clay-like poops may imply issues with your pancreas. It's crucial to share these symptoms with a doctor if you notice these changes in your stool.
Sudden Loss of AppetiteIf you suddenly lose your desire to eat or attain fullness at the beginning of your meals, this can indicate pancreatic cancer. It is best to get a complete health check-up if you're facing these symptoms.
High Blood Sugar LevelsUnmanaged changes in blood sugar levels, leading to either newly diagnosed or worsened diabetes, could be due to pancreatic cancer. If diet or medication does not aid in maintaining regular blood sugar levels, further tests should be undertaken to rule out pancreatic cancer.
Feeling Tired All The TimeIf you are persistently feeling sluggish despite ample rest, it might be a sign of pancreatic cancer causing interruptions to the body's normal functioning. A thorough check by a health professional is necessary if you're always feeling tired.
Noticing the warning signs significantly aids in early pancreatic cancer detection, leading to prompt treatment. Elderly men should be vigilant about their health alterations and should not hesitate to discuss any concerning symptoms with a health provider. Early detection can prove life-saving, and regular health screenings can aid in early diagnosis, enhancing treatment effectiveness and overall life expectancy.
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Pankaj Udhas Dies Of Pancreatic Cancer At 72: Warning Symptoms Of Pancreatic Cancer
Pankaj Udhas died on Sunday, February 25. While the family said that he died of prolonged illness, singer Anup Jalota revealed that he died of cancer.
In an interview Anup Jalota said Pankaj Udhas was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and was getting treatment for it for the past two to three months. One of the most common cancer in men is pancreas cancer. According to Health site.Com, pancreas cancer can often go undetected in the initial stages.
Here are the major symptoms of pancreatic cancer which shouldn't be ignored:
Abdominal Pain or Discomfort:
The main mainly on the upper abdomen which can travel back. Unexplained nagging stomach pain shouldn't be ignored at any cost.
Yellow eyes:
Yellow eyes and skin generally happens due to jaundice. This happens when a person is suffering from pancreatic cancer as per reports published in Healthsite.Com because tumor blocks the bile duct causing a bilirubin build-up.
Change in the colour of stool:
Pale, oily, or clay-like stool may imply issues with your pancreas. This is a major warning sign.
Loss of appetite and sudden weight loss
Loss of desire to eat and fullness of the stomach even before you start your meal is a sign that you may be suffering from pancreas cancer. This can lead to weight loss too.
Sudden spike up of blood sugar level
The Healthsite.Com report further mentions that changes in blood sugar levels, leading to either newly diagnosed or worsened diabetes, could be due to pancreatic cancer. If diet or medication does not aid in maintaining regular blood sugar levels, further tests should be undertaken to rule out pancreatic cancer.
(With inputs from agencies and The Healthsite.Com)
Ask The Doctors: Can AI Detect Pancreatic Cancer Earlier?
The pancreas is a small organ — about 6 inches — hidden deep in the abdomen, making it difficult to detect pancreatic cancer until it has spread to other parts of the body. Getty Images
Q: A dear friend was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. It was so advanced, he died just a month later. I recently saw a discussion on television about using AI to detect pancreatic cancer early, while it is still curable. How would that work?
A: With a five-year survival rate of only 9%, pancreatic cancer is among the deadliest of the major cancers. It accounts for just 3% of all cancers diagnosed in the United States, which makes it fairly rare. And yet it is the third-leading cause of cancer-related deaths, behind lung and colorectal cancer.
One of the main factors driving such a high mortality rate is the difficulty of catching this cancer at an early stage. This is due, in large part, to the location of the organ. The pancreas itself is small, just 6 inches long. It is situated deep inside the abdomen, tucked among the liver, spleen, small intestine and stomach. This makes it impossible to see without the benefit of imaging tests. Adding to the challenge is that early-stage pancreatic cancer causes few, if any, symptoms. When symptoms do begin to appear, the cancer is usually quite advanced. At that point, it has often begun to spread to other areas of the body.
In the past year, several medical institutions have reported success in developing AI technology to improve pancreatic cancer outcomes. For those who are not familiar, AI stands for artificial intelligence. It is a form of targeted problem-solving that harnesses the power of computers and computer science to analyze vast amounts of data.
Last fall, the Mayo Clinic announced the development of AI technology to analyze CT scans of patients suspected to have pancreatic cancer. Researchers "trained" their AI model using a data set of 3,000 CT scans of patients with pancreatic tumors. The resulting technology was then tested using CT scans of both healthy and diseased pancreases. The AI model, with an accuracy rate of 87%, detected tumors between three months and three years sooner than the real-world diagnosis had found them.
Researchers from MIT and a Harvard-affiliated hospital approached the problem from a different angle. Their goal was to identify people at high risk of developing pancreatic cancer. That's important because under current guidelines, only people with first-degree relatives with the disease or a known gene mutation that causes it are routinely screened. Health data show that's just 10% of the population that goes on to develop this type of cancer.
Turning to AI, the Boston researchers created a neural network trained to identify patients at high risk of developing pancreatic cancer. They did this using anonymous electronic health records from 55 health care organizations in the U.S. The neural network was able to identify patients at risk of developing pancreatic cancer up to 18 months sooner than their real-world diagnosis of the disease.
It will take time for these AI-based approaches to go into widespread use. However, these results signal a possible turning point in early pancreatic cancer diagnosis.
Gut flora takes a hit from antibiotics
Q: I got a tick bite, and because there's Lyme disease in our area, my doctor put me on antibiotics. It prevented Lyme disease, but I'm worried about what it did to my gut microbiome. How long does it take to recover? Can I do anything to help?
A: Over the last few decades, we have become increasingly aware of how the trillions of microbes that live in the human gut support our physical and mental health. These diverse colonies of microorganisms play key roles in physiology, nutrition, digestion, metabolism, immune function, hormone balance, neural activity and disease prevention. This has led to much speculation about what happens to the gut microbiome when antibiotics are needed to control a bacterial infection.
Two things turn out to be true. One is that antibiotics save millions of lives each year. The other is that using them disrupts the complex ecosystems of the gut microbiome. This means not just a decrease in the numbers of microorganisms in the large intestine, but also a decline in their diversity.
The good news is that researchers have found the gut microbiome is resilient and, over the course of several months, will gradually recover. The speed and scope of that recovery is affected by several factors. The type of antibiotic used and how frequently play a role. Eating a fiber-deficient diet prior to antibiotic treatment also leads to a slower recovery. Older adults and infants and young children may also see a delayed return of their gut flora.
You can support the recovery of your gut microbiome in several ways. Although logic suggests taking probiotics, researchers have found this can actually delay recovery. It has been found that following a course of antibiotics, the limited numbers of bacteria in probiotic products can colonize the gut. This markedly slows the balanced return of the diverse and complex colonies of microbes that are unique to each person's microbiome.
A more effective approach is to feed your gut — literally. Concentrate on a wide and varied range of prebiotic foods. These include the fresh vegetables, leafy greens, legumes, nuts and fruit that contain the fiber and micronutrients our gut flora thrive on. Include plenty of fermented foods, as well, such as yogurt, kefir, kombucha, pickles, miso and sauerkraut. Be sure to choose products with live cultures.
Physical activity has been shown to greatly improve gut health. Choose a well-rounded program of aerobic activity to get your heart pumping, strength training to build muscle strength and activities to enhance and preserve flexibility and agility.
Studies show environmental factors also play a significant role in healing an injured gut. This includes being around and interacting with animals, gardening and spending time outdoors and in nature. These expose you to a wide array of the "good" microbes that help boost gut diversity. So does being among other people who share their microbes with every breath, kiss, hug and handshake.
There are no shortcuts to good gut health. Eat well, take care of yourself and be patient. Your gut will thank you.
• Dr. Eve Glazier is an internist and associate professor of medicine at UCLA Health. Dr. Elizabeth Ko is an internist and assistant professor of medicine at UCLA Health. Send your questions to askthedoctors@mednet.Ucla.Edu.
© 2024 UCLA Health. Distributed by Andrews McMeel Syndication
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