My dad died of pancreatic cancer, so I’m trying to get ahead of the game on that. An MRI showed that I have some pancreatic abnormalities. They are probably benign, at least for the time being.
The paper linked above says that measuring the ratio: CA19-9/(bilirubin−1), is a better predictor of pancreatic cancer than previous methods.
Has anyone done this measurement?
Rapamycin is toxic to beta cells in pancreas and can affect their size and mass.
Do you have a source for this?
I find this. The dosage in these studies is 10mg / day.
I’m on 5 mg once a week. So I hope it isn’t having an adverse effect on my beta cells.
A family member had a similar MRI which showed a worrisome cyst. They had a CA-19 blood test which showed an elevated level of this tumor marker. Next the doctor did an endoscopy to get a better look at the cyst which determined it was benign and ordered periodic repeats of the CA-19 test. Subsequent tests showed lower levels that were in range. Out of caution the doctor is prescribing retests every six months but is not concerned. The point is that even an elevated CA-19 is not a clear determination of evidence of cancer.
The findings identified 24 species of bacteria and fungi that individually either raised or lowered pancreatic cancer risk. Another three kinds of bacteria tied to the cancer were already known to contribute to periodontal disease, a serious gum infection that can eat away at the jawbone and the soft tissues surrounding teeth.
Altogether, the entire group of microbes boosted participants’ chances of developing the cancer by more than threefold.