Rising KashmirRising KashmirRising Kashmir
  • Home
  • Top Stories
  • News
    • Kashmir
    • City
    • Jammu
    • Politics
  • Health
  • Anchor
  • Features
  • Interview
  • Video
Search

Archives

  • June 2025
  • May 2025
  • April 2025
  • March 2025
  • February 2025
  • January 2025
  • December 2024
  • November 2024
  • October 2024
  • September 2024
  • August 2024
  • July 2024
  • June 2024
  • May 2024
  • April 2024
  • March 2024
  • February 2024
  • January 2024
  • December 2023
  • November 2023
  • October 2023
  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • June 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022

Categories

  • Anchor
  • Breaking
  • Business
  • City
  • Developing Story
  • Editorial
  • Education
  • Features
  • Health
  • Interview
  • Jammu
  • Jammu and Kashmir News
  • Kashmir
  • Kashmir Tourism
  • Kath Bath
  • National
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Technology
  • Top Stories
  • Trending
  • Uncategorized
  • Video
  • Viewpoint
  • World
© 2022 Foxiz News Network. Ruby Design Company. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Paediatric Pancreatic Cancer: Signs and risk factors to watch out for
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Rising KashmirRising Kashmir
Font ResizerAa
  • Home
  • Top Stories
  • News
  • Health
  • Anchor
  • Features
  • Interview
  • Video
Search
  • Home
  • Top Stories
  • News
    • Kashmir
    • City
    • Jammu
    • Politics
  • Health
  • Anchor
  • Features
  • Interview
  • Video
Follow US
© 2024. All Rights Reserved.
Rising Kashmir > Blog > Opinion > Paediatric Pancreatic Cancer: Signs and risk factors to watch out for
Opinion

Paediatric Pancreatic Cancer: Signs and risk factors to watch out for

RK News
Last updated: May 1, 2023 5:07 pm
RK News
Published: May 1, 2023
Share
6 Min Read
SHARE

Dr. SANKETH KOTNE

 

Pancreatic cancer is rare to begin with, and rarer in childhood. Physicians may tend to miss a timely diagnosis for pediatric cases. Pancreatic cancer, across all ages, ranks 24th in incidence in India, but 18th in mortality. It is a rare site but one of the leading mortality sites in cancer patients.

 

The prognosis, based on the type of tumour and its potential to metastasize, is often poor because the disease remains asymptomatic in its early stages. By the time signs develop, the cancer has usually advanced locally or is metastatic. The poor long-term outcome of pancreatic cancer in both adults and children is even more reason for us to reinforce the steps to prevent it, ideally in childhood. Pancreatic tumors can form when cells in the pancreas begin to grow uncontrollably and form a mass or lump.

 

Pancreatic tumours are different in childhood from adulthood and tend to have better treatment outcomes. An early diagnosis and management of tumours which may be potentially malignant (insulinoma, gastrinoma etc.) or are primarily malignant (pancreatoblastoma) are critical to increase survival rates.

 

We know from genetic studies that certain gene mutations and family history (of pancreatic cancer) may lead to a predisposition towards pancreatic cancer in childhood. Diabetes Type 1 at an early age is considered as a risk for pancreatic cancer. High exposure to toxic pesticides such as benzene and toluene, too, have been known to increase the risk of pediatric pancreatic cancer.

 

Childhood provides a window for doctors to initiate preventative management by identifying, assessing and where possible, treating predispositions towards pancreatic malignancy. Certain predispositions such as genetic mutations or child-obesity (especially, high BMI in children between 7 and 13 years of age) which may be diagnosed at an early age, and some childhood diseases, such as pediatric cancers and diabetes Type 1 and 2, which may trigger pancreatic cancer in adulthood, should be closely monitored by doctors to prevent adult incidence of the disease.

 

If pancreatic tumours don’t secrete hormones, then it is difficult to diagnose early. But secretions from malignant tumours create signs which aid in diagnosis. Some perceptible signs of pediatric pancreatic cancer are:

 

  • Unexplained weight loss or gain, and chronic fatigue, but given their nature, may get misdiagnosed first, causing delays in treatment.
  • Low blood sugar or low sodium level, leading to blurred vision, muscle weakness, headaches, dizziness, profuse sweating, unabated hunger, confusion.
  • Reflux in the food pipe.
  • Chronic/watery diarrhea, gastrointestinal bleeding, nausea, and vomiting.
  • Appetite loss.
  • Palpable lump in the abdomen.
  • Recurrent stomach ulcers.
  • Constantly feeling thirsty, passing less urine, dry skin, and dry mouth.
  • High blood pressure.
  • Purple stretch marks.
  •  
  • Jaundice if a tumor in the pancreas blocks the bile duct, leading to a bilirubin build-up.

 

Pediatricians should consider the possibility of pediatric pancreatic cancer during the follow-up of children who have experienced idiopathic acute pancreatitis or cholestatic hepatitis in the past. Many of the signs of pediatric pancreatic cancer can be mistaken for other diseases and should be investigated with imaging and histopathological exams, especially the risk groups.

 

Diagnosing pediatric pancreatic cancer can be challenging, as it is a relatively rare type of cancer in children. It can be diagnosed through CT scan, ultrasound, MRI, blood tests, endoscopy and biopsy.

 

Pancreatoblastoma is the most common neoplasm in children with the disease. Treatment of any kind of pediatric pancreatic cancer will depend on the nature of the malignancy, its site, and the stage of metastasis. Surgery such as a Whipple procedure, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy (mTOR inhibitor therapy) are the primary ways to treat it. A pediatric oncologist would be the specialist who would head the team of other pediatric health personnel to draw up a treatment plan. Given the rarity of the incidence, participating in a clinical trial could also be considered.

 

Palliative care comprising pain management, symptomatic relief, and emotional and psychological support for the child and family may be necessary to ensure the pediatric patient’s quality of life is maintained as much as possible.

 

Extensive screenings strategies for monitoring risk-prone children need an effort from both families and the medical community. Children with hereditary diseases associated with pancreatic cancer or with family-occurrences of such conditions should be regularly screened for pancreatic cancer. Screening the pediatric population for diabetes mellitus and obesity will not just help prevent pediatric pancreatic cancer, but also the later onset of pancreatic cancer in adulthood.

 

 

 

(The Author is Consultant Medical Oncologist, HCG Cancer Centre Vizag)

Parenting in Modern Times: Navigating Challenges and Embracing Opportunities
Augmenting Social Security Measures for Nation Building
Sincere efforts of all the teachers can bring change in the education department
Empowering Women: Transforming Jammu and Kashmir through Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra
The Role of the Printing Press and Subsequent Innovations in European and Islamic Societies

Sign Up For Daily Newsletter

Be keep up! Get the latest breaking news delivered straight to your inbox.
By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
Share This Article
Facebook Whatsapp Whatsapp Copy Link Print
Previous Article Mastering Art of Papier-Mache: Maqbool Jan’s Passion for the Craft
Next Article Experiential Learning: Live, Learn and Grow
Leave a Comment Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Stay Connected

1MFollowersLike
262kFollowersFollow
InstagramFollow
234kSubscribersSubscribe
Google NewsFollow

Latest News

JKSA reiterates appeal to EAM Jaishankar for immediate evacuation of Kashmiri students stranded in Iran amid conflict
Breaking
June 17, 2025
Jammu and Kashmir
J&K Govt Constitutes panel headed by Div Com Kashmir for short-term review of Srinagar Master Plan 2035
Breaking
June 17, 2025
Police solves minor’s death mystery in Kunzer Baramulla
Breaking
June 17, 2025
224 Iranian civilians including women & children killed in Israeli strikes
Breaking World
June 17, 2025

Recent Posts

  • JKSA reiterates appeal to EAM Jaishankar for immediate evacuation of Kashmiri students stranded in Iran amid conflict
  • J&K Govt Constitutes panel headed by Div Com Kashmir for short-term review of Srinagar Master Plan 2035
  • Police solves minor’s death mystery in Kunzer Baramulla
  • 224 Iranian civilians including women & children killed in Israeli strikes
  • ACB files disproportionate assets case against Patwari in Kupwara

Recent Comments

  1. Shah on Relief for Employees: J&K Bank Fixes EMI-Credit Mismatch, says JK Bank Chairman
  2. Latif khan on Why Kashmir needs Stronger Private Healthcare and Health Insurance
  3. Sameer farooq mir on Qazi Irfan assumes charge as RTO Kashmir
  4. Captain Vikrama on CM Omar Abdullah hails historic feat as three Kashmiri Girls crack IIT-JEE Advanced
  5. BASHIR AHMAD BHAT on Poor hotel accommodation, lack of medical facilities irk Kashmiri pilgrims in Saudi Arabia, video goes viral

Contact Us

Flat No 7,Press Enclave, Srinagar, 190001
0194 2477887
9971795706
[email protected]
[email protected]

Quick Link

  • E-Paper
  • About Us
  • Contact Us

Top Categories

Stay Connected

1.06MLike
262.5kFollow
InstagramFollow
234.3kSubscribe
WhatsAppFollow
Rising KashmirRising Kashmir
Follow US
© 2025. All Rights Reserved.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?