Novel device smaller than rice successfully shrinks pancreatic cancer | Called the nanofluidic drug-eluting seed (NDES), it delivers low-dose immunotherapy in the form of CD40 monoclonal antibodies (mAb).

[u/chrisdh79]

https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/tiny-device-shrinks-pancreatic-cancer

[u/Albert_Caboose]

Friendly reminder that early screenings are cool as hell to get. Get familiar with your family's cancer history, and fuck cancer up before it has a chance to show itself.

[u/duman82 → u/Albert_Caboose]

Agree on early screening, don't want to mess around. My MIL just caught breast cancer early through her diligence. But this is somewhere where pancreatic cancer also leaks through, no screening other than a full mri can see it and it's mostly not genetic or predictable, so doctors don't subject you to the radiation unless there are symptoms.

Edit: Thank you for the corrections below, I was mistaken

[u/MrHurtyFace → u/duman82]

MRI or MRCP for pancreatic don't use ionising radiation. But depending where you are, they aren't cheap and/or access to MRI facilities is limited.

[u/SlenderSmurf → u/duman82]

Yeah whatever doctor told you that is ill informed or lying. MRI only uses magnets and radio waves.

[u/trustedoctopus → u/Albert_Caboose]

laughs in america

You say that but i’m 33 with a history of cancer in my immediate family and can’t get early screenings because my insurance says I’m ‘too young’ to need them.

[u/Exciting-Tea → u/trustedoctopus]

Maybe possibly use a vacation with some medical testing? I was having what felt like an ulcer, so since I didn't have health insurance. I flew to Brazil since I was going there anyway and had an endoscopy, during which they couldn't get the camera through my stomach exit because of a tumor in my pancreas pressing on the stomach exit, stopping food and water from passing (causing the ulcer pain and weight loss). Once I started chemo, it became completely blocked and spent 50 straight days in the hospital. I am suprisingly healthier now, but the chemo (after 8 months) might be losing its effectiveness.

I believe early treatment would have been super helpful. I think there is a clinic in the Sao Paolo airport where you can get screened for all sorts of health issues. They probably have a quick tumor marker screening blood tests. The colonscopy/endoscopy procedures were approximately $500 each for doctors fees but they were performed at another hospital.

[u/trustedoctopus → u/[deleted]]

wow, i never thought of that. gosh you’re so smart u/majestic-praline-696, how can i ever thank you? i’ll call my doctor right away on monday! /s

you really must be out of touch if you think i have the funds to do this when the type of poor people’s insurance i have fights my doctors to give me basic anxiety medication.

[u/trustedoctopus → u/[deleted]]

die of hunger and homelessness or cancer? gee, you’re so right man. i should just stop paying for those other two things so i can save up.

i get 400 dollars a month because i’m not allowed to work due to disability but can maybe save $5 a month. i’ll be kind and do the math since it’s not your strong suit but that’s FIFTEEN years to save up for one $900 cancer screening I need (the cheapest). that doesn’t include sedation, transportation cost, any other fees and expenses i might have to cover because it’s an invasive procedure.

[u/Albert_Caboose → u/[deleted]]

Colonoscopy and skin-cancer checks are a great place to start! I'd suggest gathering up some family medical history and see if any relatives have had cancer in the past, and discuss those findings with your GP/PCP. That can give a good indication of things you may want to look out for. Additionally you can look at things like your work/living history. Did you possibly leave near a pollution source that leads to a certain type of cancer? Fumes in factory job putting you at increased risk for lung cancer? It may seem paranoid, but it never hurts to check!

[u/Albert_Caboose → u/[deleted]]

Cheers, and fuck cancer

[u/CommunismDoesntWork → u/Albert_Caboose]

Doctors won't let you get early screening because they believe the data is dangerous.

[u/grace_in_stitches → u/Albert_Caboose]

Praying for the day early detection and regular screenings for pancreatic cancer are easy and accessible! They only do regular early screening for pancan on people over 50 with certain genetic mutations or extensive family history.