![Sugar: A Potential Culprit in Pancreatic Cancer, the ‘King of Cancer’](https://img.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2023/12/20/id5550572-shutterstock_296066060-600x400.jpg)
The Dual Role of the Pancreas
In Western medicine, the pancreas is recognized as both a digestive and an endocrine organ. As a digestive organ, it secretes various enzymes to break down proteins, fats, and carbohydrates in food. As an endocrine organ, it produces insulin and glucagon to regulate blood sugar levels, maintaining them at appropriate levels crucial for the functioning of key organs.
Sugar and Pancreatic Cancer
In the ancient Chinese medical text “The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine“ or the ”Huangdi Neijing,” it is documented that the spleen corresponds to sweetness. Ms. Rong explained that while a small amount of sweetness can nourish the spleen, excessive sweetness can be detrimental. Sugar is present in refined sweet foods. Eating too many highly refined sweet foods for too long can lead to chronic damage to the spleen, potentially resulting in cancerous changes.
Challenges in Detection and Treatment
Ms. Rong explained that the difficulty in detecting pancreatic cancer in its early stages is due to the pancreas’ location. Often referred to as a “hidden organ,” the pancreas is concealed behind several other organs. This positioning makes it nearly impossible for doctors to feel it during a physical examination, and even with an ultrasound, capturing clear images of the pancreas is challenging.
Furthermore, when tumors form and grow in the pancreas, they typically do not cause noticeable symptoms. Even if symptoms do appear, they are rarely recognized as related to pancreatic issues, making early detection unlikely. It is often only when the tumor cells have metastasized to other organs that the symptoms become apparent.
Limited Treatment Options
Additionally, pancreatic cancer cells are aggressive and exhibit resistance to multiple levels of treatment, making a complete cure very challenging. According to the American Cancer Society, the five-year relative survival rate for pancreatic cancer is only 13 percent.
Treatment options for pancreatic cancer remain very limited. The primary surgical treatment is pancreaticoduodenectomy, but less than 20 percent of pancreatic cancer patients are eligible for this procedure.
TCM as an Adjunctive Treatment
Ms. Rong recounted a recent case of treating a pancreatic cancer patient. A late-stage patient underwent five months of chemotherapy with no improvement. When they came to the clinic for a checkup, they had lost all their hair, their face was distorted with pain, and their stomach was bloated like a balloon. After acupuncture treatment, the patient’s symptoms significantly improved, as did their emotional state.
Early Symptoms
Ms. Rong noted that some patients with pancreatic cancer exhibit no symptoms at all, while others experience only a few symptoms that are often overlooked, such as:
- Upper abdominal bloating and discomfort
- Itchy skin
- Unexplained sudden increase in blood sugar levels or sudden ineffectiveness of diabetes medication
- Lower back pain, especially at the level of the navel, unrelated to kidney disease or injury
- Yellowing of the eyes and skin (jaundice)
Risk Factors
While the exact cause of any cancer is unknown, the following are risk factors that may influence pancreatic cancer development:
- High stress, depression, and anxiety: One study showed that depression may be a precursor to pancreatic cancer, with half of pancreatic cancer patients exhibiting psychiatric symptoms 43 months before physical symptoms appear.
- Unhealthy lifestyle: Uncontrolled diet and irregular sleep patterns.
- Unbalanced diet: Eating an unvaried and unhealthy diet, such as eating too much meat and not enough fruits and vegetables.
- Bad habits: Smoking, drinking alcohol, consuming excessive amounts of coffee, and frequently eating charred foods.
- Underlying health factors: Diabetes is a known risk factor for pancreatic cancer.
- Pancreatitis: Chronic inflammation of the pancreas can lead to cancer, and benign tumors may become malignant.
- Genetics: Pancreatic cancer has a certain degree of familial inheritance.
Preventive Measures
Ms. Rong emphasized that to prevent pancreatic cancer, it is essential to make lifestyle adjustments and cultivate healthy habits in daily life. Consider implementing the following:
- Reduce intake of sugary foods: Instead, opt for high-protein and whole-grain foods, nuts, and legumes. For instance, incorporate boiled or lightly fried fish, chicken, eggs, oatmeal, corn, millet, and rye into your diet.
- Eat a variety of vegetables and fruits: Vegetables and fruits are rich in antioxidants, which combat oxidative stress and chronic inflammation, reducing the risk of cancer.
- Increase intake of healthy fats: Research has shown that olive oil consumption can reduce the risk of cancer.
- Engage in regular exercise: Physical activity can strengthen the immune system and lower cancer risk.
- Maintain a positive mindset and manage stress: Depression may have some association with pancreatic cancer. It is essential to actively manage stress and incorporate relaxation techniques into your routine.