After last week’s essay about this disease condition, it has become necessary to help readers understand the peculiar nature of the organ. The pancreas is an organ located deep within the back recesses of the abdomen, lodged somewhere between the stomach in front and the spine behind.
The spine is encircled by thick muscles that provide it with padding and function as shock absorbers, so to speak.
Cancer in this organ often goes undetected or misdiagnosed due to its position and interactions with neighboring structures such as the liver, stomach, gallbladder, and chest.
Notably significant is the reality that pancreatic cancer has led to the deaths of various prominent figures, underscoring the disease’s aggressive characteristics and the difficulties encountered in its treatment.
We shall examine some prominent figures who have been diagnosed with and died from pancreatic cancer.
Among these notable figures is Steve Jobs (1955–2011), who co-founded Apple Inc. and was the creative force driving the company’s groundbreaking innovations. In 2003, he was found to have a less common type of pancreatic cancer known as a Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumor.
Initially, he explored alternative treatment options prior to opting for surgery and additional therapies. In 2011, despite being recipient of a simultaneous liver and pancreas transplant, he sadly passed away.
This was someone who, similar to other well-known individuals afflicted with this illness, possessed ample means to obtain the finest available care yet eventually fell victim to it nonetheless.
Other victims include Aretha Franklin (1942–2018), the renowned Queen of Soul and iconic singer famous for tracks such as "Respect" and "A Natural Woman."
In 2010, she was informed of having pancreatic cancer. She maintained privacy about her illness and carried on with performances till her health deteriorated significantly. She ultimately passed away in 2018.
This applies equally to Randy Pausch (1960–2008), the computer science professor and writer known for his widely celebrated "Last Lecture" which he gave upon receiving a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.
His motivating speech and later published book centered around fulfilling youthful aspirations and embracing life completely. He died in 2008.
Michael Landon (1936–1991), an actor renowned for his work in writing and directing as well, gained recognition from shows like "Little House on the Prairie" and "Bonanza." In 1991, he too received a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer and sadly succumbed to the disease shortly thereafter.
The same also applies to Luciano Pavarotti (1935–2007), one of the most famous opera singers of all time, known for his performances as an operatic tenor. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2006. He underwent surgery and treatment but passed away in 2007.
Patrick Swayze (1952–2009), an accomplished actor and dancer famous for starring in "Dirty Dancing" and "Ghost," fell ill with pancreatic cancer in 2008. Despite undergoing chemotherapy and persisting with his work throughout the treatments, he ultimately lost his battle with the illness in 2009.
Another notable figure taken from us was John Lewis (1940–2020), the esteemed U.S. Congressman and legendary civil rights activist, who passed away due to pancreatic cancer in 2020 despite attempts to save his life through treatment.
Lewis was a key figure in the American civil rights movement, known for his leadership in the 1965 Selma to Montgomery marches and his lifelong dedication to justice and equality.
He acted as a U.S. Representative for Georgia’s 5th congressional district from 1987 up to his demise in July 2020. In December 2019, Lewis learned he had stage IV pancreatic cancer. Even after receiving this diagnosis, he persisted in serving and motivating others right through to his departure. His passing shed light on the difficulties posed by pancreatic cancer and underscored the necessity for enhanced research and better treatment alternatives.
Moreover, numerous others can be mentioned. A prominent case is Joan Crawford (1904–1977), the legendary Hollywood figure and actress famous for movies such as "Mildred Pierce" and "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?", who passed away from pancreatic cancer in 1977.
Next up is Bill Hicks (1961–1994), the celebrated comic and social commentator famous for his incisive humor and provocative jokes. Diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 1993, he sadly died in 1994.
And what about Sally Ride (1951–2012)? She was the first American woman in space and a physicist of note, diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2011. She passed away in 2012.
Finally, we have Alan Rickman (1946–2016), an eminent actor renowned for playing Severus Snape in the Harry Potter movies and Hans Gruber in Die Hard. He was found to have pancreatic cancer in 2015 and died in 2016.
The narratives of these notable figures hold significant weight as their untimely demises vividly illustrate the destructive nature of pancreatic cancer. These influential personalities keep motivating ongoing endeavors aimed at tackling this formidable ailment. Even with abundant resources, unparalleled healthcare options, and vast audiences at their disposal, they could not conquer the illness—a stark reminder of the critical necessity for early diagnostic techniques capable of identifying the condition when treatment remains viable. Through prompt identification coupled with enhanced therapeutic approaches, we stand a chance to boost both longevity and overall wellbeing. Such losses among high-profile individuals primarily hailing from transparent communities where medical details aren’t concealed ought ideally catalyze greater understanding around the disorder and foster heightened vigilance concerning its symptoms.
This research has resulted in new diagnostic methods, such as urine tests that might someday identify this condition at an earlier stage.
The primary rationale for dedicating significant attention to this pernicious ailment—known for causing rapid fatality after diagnosis—is due to recent events. Approximately three months prior, I received a late-night call around 2 a.m. from a reader seeking guidance on how to proceed with treating a 54-year-old brother recently diagnosed with the illness the night before. The urgency necessitating a hospital visit stemmed from unrelenting abdominal pain radiating to the upper back, compounded by notable weight loss—a combination that raised serious concerns among them. Adding to their distress were the physicians’ lack of communication with the family and their tendency to maintain an impersonal stance under the guise of needing further confirmation for the diagnosis.
Once the diagnosis was confirmed a week later through additional imaging tests and an endoscopy, it became clear that the tumor had metastasized to the liver, the lymph nodes near the abdominal aorta, and the lungs. At this stage, the illness was deemed advanced. The cancer had fully enveloped the blood vessels serving at least one-third of the small intestine, most of the large intestine excluding the rectum, along with the pancreas and surrounding tissues like the mesentery.
These are referred to as the superior mesenteric artery and vein. They play a crucial role in delivering essential nutrients to the previously mentioned sections of the intestine. As these arteries stem from the biggest blood vessel in the human body—the aorta—damaging them significantly leaves no possibility for surgical removal of malignant tumors due to the critical nature of their structure.
Several individuals who suffered from similar conditions spring to mind. Among them was a middle-aged woman whose unfortunate circumstance involved abruptly developing severe jaundice accompanied by extreme itchiness, making sleep unattainable. Despite trying every available antihistamine, none proved effective. At night, she resorted to using a sponge for relief as the use of a comb earlier had led to numerous minor injuries all over her skin. Her condition deteriorated rapidly; what started with diagnosis ended fatally within merely six weeks.
Another case involved a 24-year-old recent graduate who had finished their youth service when they were abruptly awakened at night, believing they were experiencing diarrhea. Instead, they noticed blood gushing from their anus as though it were flowing from an open faucet. Shortly after, they started vomiting blood too. Following these incidents, they were quickly taken to a teaching hospital for emergency care. Keeping them alive was the primary concern. During the subsequent three to four days, she received approximately 28 pints of blood transfusions. Through treatment involving intravenous omeprazole and additional medication, the bleeding subsided. Her condition stabilized sufficiently to allow for further diagnostic tests. It was discovered that the head of her pancreas appeared abnormal.
It was a serious condition that required her to undergo surgery in the operating room, where she had an extensive 11-hour procedure for tumor removal and reconstruction of the organ’s other sections. This occurred back in 2001, and she continues to be with us today, more than two decades later. The medical team managed to obtain a significant tissue sample through a biopsy, which reinforced the initial diagnosis. Her primary good fortune lay in being sick enough to seek urgent care at a facility capable of making an early determination.
An older gentleman, approximately 60 years old at the time the suspicion arose but couldn’t be officially confirmed as he passed away beforehand, was someone I knew well. Initially, he sought medical attention due to what turned out to be a peptic ulcer condition. Over the course of two years or longer, various treatments for ulcers were administered to him, such as proton pump inhibitors like omeprazole and rabeprazole. Eventually, the discomfort grew severe and unmanageable, coupled with an alarming decline in body mass. It was then that my involvement began, alongside several mutual acquaintances pooling resources to secure proper examination for him. Just prior to his scheduled visit to the diagnostics center, he fell unconscious and was rushed to the hospital. Sadly, he succumbed a short while after admission.
I remember a 65-year-old man who had been diagnosed with the illness. From the moment he received confirmation of his condition, he survived only about three weeks before passing away. By then, he couldn’t keep down so much as a sip of water; anything he tried to consume would come back up immediately.
Questions and answers
If A physician commits an error, resulting in the loss of a human life—a tragic aspect inherent to their profession. Today, I want to address the substantial financial burden borne by patients, particularly concerning treatments such as dialysis. My father faced numerous expenses related to strokes before passing away. We had to sell our family property, vehicles, and various assets merely to cover his medical costs, but unfortunately, this did not prevent his death.
Thank you greatly for your input. Typically, physicians are diligent and review each other’s work. Unfortunately, in our nation, it is a somber fact that individuals who fall ill have to bear the cost of healthcare personally.
Not long ago, another reader informed us about a particular issue they encountered, involving being presented with a bill for N1.5 million to get surgery for an internal hernia at a Federal Medical Centre.
As an enrolled member of the National Health Insurance Scheme, he regrets that his upcoming surgery isn’t included under coverage. Currently working as a civil servant earning just below 10 percent of what would be needed for such procedures, how can he possibly foot this expense honestly? This represents one of many pressing challenges facing our nation today. To truly grasp the impact of poverty amongst Nigerians, visit a public hospital where these struggles become starkly apparent.
Hello Doctor. Thank you so much for your regular assistance. May God bless you. I’m reaching out because I'm concerned about my grandfather who continues to smoke despite his advanced age of 82. Surprisingly, he remains quite active—he doesn’t show signs of illness, has no trouble sleeping or eating, and even manages to climb stairs easily. However, the strong odor from cigarette smoke bothers me greatly. Could you advise what steps I could take to encourage him to quit smoking? Thank you once again; I am based in Ogun State. 08051476***
Good evening. Thanks for joining us each week. At his age—82—it would be pointless to try stopping him. You probably wouldn’t succeed anyway, considering how much he smokes.
Secondly, diseases do not always follow the guidelines. Many individuals who have never smoked or consumed alcohol find themselves struggling with serious health issues at relatively young ages, such as cancer. Therefore, attempting to forcefully prevent your grandfather from smoking could potentially cause more harm than benefit.
When considering his lifespan, he has surpassed expectations significantly. Additionally, if your main issue with his smoking habit is the odor, addressing this shouldn't be difficult. You could designate an isolated area within the home for him to smoke, or perhaps use a balcony if available. Regardless of whether you have a balcony, the point remains clear.
Good evening, doctor. At present, I'm around 20 weeks into my pregnancy. This marks my second time carrying a child; my first daughter is approximately 30 months old, which is two and a half years. Lately, I've been experiencing frequent headaches.
I believe things might be slightly worse compared to earlier. Since being around 10 weeks pregnant, I've enrolled in prenatal care and consistently checked my blood pressure during each hospital visit up until now. My readings were always within the normal range. However, when I measured it at home today, it came out as 102/92 mmHg. Could you explain why this happened and suggest appropriate actions? When I consulted the hospital staff, they advised me to get better rest. Honestly, though, I haven't had trouble getting proper sleep. Can you assist me with this issue, please? 09168189***
Hello! Typically, a physician might hesitate to prescribe medications beyond acetaminophen for such an issue. This is because the underlying reasons for these types of headaches tend to be quite understood.
Pregnancy leads to changes in hormonal balance, such that changes in oestrogen and progesterone levels cause the blood vessels to relax and allow headaches to occur. This can also result from the increase in blood volume in a pregnant woman, with the effect that headaches may result.
Pregnancy brings stress at any stage and seldom allows women to enjoy restful sleep. These elements frequently combine to create headaches. Hence, based on the information provided, you should only use paracetamol. More potent pain relievers such as common NSAIDs might interfere with your baby's heart valve development and lead to various cardiac issues.
Finally, your diastolic blood pressure reading of 92 mmHg is quite significant and should be monitored closely.
Good morning! Please find below details regarding the case of my neighbor, who is 56 years old. About three weeks ago, she began showing symptoms of jaundice. Initially, we suspected malaria due to her high fever, so she received malaria treatment. However, even though her fever subsided slightly following the administration of chloroquine along with additional doses of paracetamol and ibuprofen, her condition worsened as the jaundice intensified and severe itching set in. As a nurse, I suggested that she undergo an abdominal ultrasound examination. Following this, the physician ordered a CT scan of the abdomen. We have both these diagnostic report findings available now. Additionally, they proposed conducting further tests; however, I'm not sure what specific examinations were recommended. Could you advise us next steps for managing her situation? 08062766***
Thank you greatly for providing such an extensive background and query. In summary, this appears to be gallbladder cancer known as cholangiocarcinoma that has metastasized to the liver. This significantly diminishes the prognosis. The document suggests conducting a Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography test, which involves injecting contrast material into the individual to enable precise visualization of the bile ducts, gallbladder, and pancreatic duct through MRI techniques.
This will assist in assessing the seriousness of her situation and planning a course of treatment. Sadly, a complete recovery is not possible as the condition has progressed too far.
Hello Doctor, I hope this message finds you well. I am a 59-year-old woman who has been experiencing chronic lower back pain for over 15 years now. I believe this discomfort may be linked to receiving spinal anesthesia during my three cesarean deliveries.
Initially, the doctors attempted to insert the needle into my back as many as four times. The moment the discomfort begins, I generally feel awful since the region experiences intense throbbing akin to repeated blows from a hammer. I’ve visited both the orthopedic facility in Lagos and the Lagos University Teaching Hospital for X-rays and various examinations. Currently, they've informed me that an MRI scan of my spine is necessary to proceed further with my diagnostic process. This has left me feeling quite bewildered. Should I go ahead with their recommendation? 08028261***
You shouldn't feel puzzled regarding your present circumstances since you have the advantage of being treated by some of the finest medical professionals at both the orthopedic hospital and LUTH.
It is crucial that you adhere to their guidelines since although you associate the start of this pain with your negative encounter during spinal anesthesia, the source of the discomfort might be different. Identifying this alternative reason is essential so that you can get the proper care your back needs.
Good morning, doctor. Managing human lives isn't like having a casual gathering for tea. Since I couldn't become either a doctor or a soldier myself, I genuinely admire those who do these jobs. It baffles me why certain doctors struggle with cesarean sections. Just now, I learned about two physicians conducting such an operation on a patient in a hospital located in Owerri. They apparently watched the process via YouTube before attempting to replicate each step directly on the expectant mother. Unfortunately, both she and her child did not survive this ordeal.
08063671***
Thanks for your query. Regrettably, I'm not acquainted with this particular tale and thus cannot provide insights about it. Nonetheless, the educational program at Nigerian medical schools equips students with comprehensive fundamental knowledge in both medicine and surgery, producing well-rounded physicians.
Therefore, your input stands out as quite peculiar. Regardless, both in medical school or the military, people ought to concentrate on their primary strengths to ensure reliable high-quality outcomes. To illustrate, an individual proficient in armored combat shouldn’t abruptly change positions and turn into a paratrooper. Lacking appropriate instruction, they could perish almost instantly. Similarly, a cardiologist can’t simply choose to carry out heart surgeries without proper education since the preparation required for each role differs significantly. This would inevitably result in catastrophe.
Hello, Sunday doctor. My eight-year-old child has developed a small lump on one side of their neck. The area is quite tender, and despite treating them with Brustan-N and multivitamins, the swelling persists. Last week, we visited the Federal Medical Centre close to our home; however, due to being informed that he was the sole physician present, we couldn’t consult with the doctor scheduled for our appointment.
I'll send you an image of the swelling that I captured earlier since he is currently out playing football. 07040667***
The swelling appears specifically at the angle of the jaw and is most likely due to an swollen lymph node. Pain in this area suggests that it may have accumulated a considerable amount of bacteria, since lymph nodes act as one of the initial defenses against microorganisms within the body.
This is probably due to a recently acquired upper respiratory tract infection or an oral area infection. Regardless of the root cause, though, he must receive the correct antibiotic; otherwise, the discomfort won’t subside.
Provided by Syndigate Media Inc. ( Syndigate.info ).
0 Comments:
Post a Comment