Twelve weeks. That’s how long it took for my father to die of pancreatic cancer – one of the deadliest cancers in the world. It’s not called a silent killer for nothing : the disease develops slowly, with few early symptoms, until treatment options are limited.
A silent and aggressive cancer
Pancreatic cancer receives less media attention compared to lung, breast, or colon cancer. Nevertheless, it remains one of the most serious types of cancer and ranks fourth on the list of cancer-related deaths .
- In France alone, almost 16,000 new cases are diagnosed every year ( Santé Publique France, 2023 ).
- Worldwide, the incidence rate increases by 2 to 3% annually.
- The five-year survival rate is still below 10%.
Diagnosis is usually made late: The average age for early detection is 71 for men and 74 for women. By this time, more than three-quarters of tumors are already inoperable. Only complete surgical removal offers a chance of long-term survival. Therefore, early detection is so important.
The two symptoms we overlooked
In retrospect, there were two clear warning signs that we should have taken more seriously.
1. Persistent abdominal or back pain
My father initially complained of back problems, which he attributed to his posture and age. But the pain persisted, spread to his upper abdomen, and worsened at night or after eating. Click on the next page.
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