Former Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse announced this week that he has been diagnosed with metastatic stage 4 disease. pancreatic cancercalled the disease a “death sentence” in a message posted to X.
Sass, 53, said her cancer had spread and acknowledged she had “less time than I would have liked,” but noted recent scientific advances and her future goals. seek treatment.
“I’m not going down without a fight,” Sass said when revealing his diagnosis. “Part of God’s grace is found in the amazing advances in science over the past few years, including in immunotherapy.”
Factors hidden in the timing of cancer treatment may affect survival, researchers say
Pancreatic cancer is known to be one of the most deadly cancers and is still active. research effort We aim to improve results.
Here are six important things to know about this disease.
Part 1: Pancreatic cancer is often detected late and has a high mortality rate.
According to the American Cancer Society, pancreatic cancer is notoriously aggressive and difficult to treat. Most patients are not diagnosed until the disease has already spread to other organs. This is mainly because there is no reliable screening test and early symptoms may be vague or non-existent.
Ben Sasse, a former U.S. senator from Nebraska, announced that he has been diagnosed with metastatic stage 4 pancreatic cancer. (Getty Images; iStock)
ACS estimates that 67,440 Americans will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2025 and approximately 51,980 will die from pancreatic cancer. The biological properties of tumors create physical and chemical barriers that reduce the effectiveness of many treatments. traditional treatment.
Part 2: New immunotherapies are showing early promise
UCLA researchers recently reported advances in off-the-shelf experimental research. cell-based immunotherapy Designed to attack pancreatic cancer.
Former Republican senator. Ben Sasse reveals stage 4 cancer diagnosis: ‘This is a death sentence’
Studies in mice showed that the treatment slowed tumor growth, increased survival time, and remained effective even after the cancer had spread to other organs, such as the liver and lungs.
This treatment uses special immune cells called natural killer T (NKT) cells that are genetically engineered to specifically recognize and attack pancreatic cancer cells.
Early research is exploring new approaches to pancreatic cancer, including experimental immunotherapies and risk factor studies, but many findings are still in the preclinical or observational stages. (St. Petersburg)
Unlike individualized therapies, NKT cells are naturally compatible with different immune systems and can be produced in large quantities from cells. donor stem cells.
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Researchers estimate that one donor could provide cells for thousands of treatments, potentially costing about $5,000 per dose. All testing so far has been done in mice; human trials have not yet begun.
Part 3: Diet and gut health can influence treatment recovery
Another study from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology suggests that: amino acid cysteine It may help the intestines heal after cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
A mouse study found that cysteine, which is found in foods such as meat, eggs, dairy products, legumes, and nuts, helped regenerate intestinal stem cells that are often damaged during cancer treatment.
Researchers are studying how a diet containing nutrients such as cysteine, found in high-protein foods, can support recovery from pancreatic cancer treatment. (St. Petersburg)
Additional unpublished studies have shown benefits after treatment with 5-fluorouracil, a chemotherapy drug used for colon and pancreatic cancer. The researchers emphasized that human studies are still needed and that cysteine itself is not a cure for cancer.
No. 4: Alcohol and lifestyle factors may increase cancer risk
A recent study published in the journal PLOS Medicine by the International Agency for Research on Cancer found that: alcohol intake Associated with increased risk of pancreatic cancer.
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The study followed 2.5 million people for about 16 years and found that risk increased by 3% for every 10 grams of ethanol consumed per day. Higher levels of intake were associated with greater risk, especially for beer and spirits.
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The researchers noted that the study was observational and further research is needed to understand drinking patterns across the lifespan.
Part 5: Symptoms are often subtle and easily overlooked.
Symptoms may include abdominal pain that radiates to the side or back, loss of appetite, and unexplained abdominal pain. weight lossAccording to the Mayo Clinic.
Some people develop jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes), along with pale or floating stools, dark urine, and itching.
Common warning signs of pancreatic cancer include abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss, and loss of appetite. (St. Petersburg)
Other possible signs include a new diagnosis of diabetes (or diabetes that is harder to control), pain or swelling in the arm or leg that may be related to a blood clot, and persistent symptoms. fatigue or weakness.
If you have symptoms, please contact your health care professional.
Number 6: Age, genetics, and health conditions can increase your risk.
Pancreatic cancer risk is influenced by a combination of genetic factors, medical factors, and pancreatic cancer risk. lifestyle factors.
According to the ACS, the disease becomes more common with age, and men are slightly more susceptible. People with a family history or genetic mutation, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and physical inactivity are also at increased risk.
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A diet high in processed meat and red meat and low in intake fruits and vegetablesAccording to multiple cancer organizations, heavy alcohol consumption, as well as occupational chemical exposure, can also contribute to the risk of pancreatic cancer.
But experts note that many people are diagnosed with the disease without clear risk factors.
Ashley J. DiMella, Angelica Stabile, Deirdre Bardolf and Alex Nitzberg contributed reporting.
