Researchers Say This Unexpected Body Change Could Be an Early Warning Sign of Pancreatic Cancer
In the United States, an estimated 67,530 new cases of pancreatic cancer and 52,740 deaths are projected for 2026. The disease is often diagnosed in its later stages, when treatment becomes more difficult. But according to a new study published in Pancreatology , people who develop pancreatic cancer experience measurable changes in body composition, including losses in body fat and muscle, appearing in the months and years before a diagnosis. Ultimately, the findings suggest that routine CT scans may capture physiological changes associated with pancreatic cancer before ever being clinically detected. Researchers analyzed abdominal CT scans from 1,825 people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and compared them with scans from people of similar ages and health backgrounds who didn’t have the disease. The scans, which were taken within three years before diagnosis, allowed researchers to track changes in skeletal muscle, visceral fat, and subcutaneous fat. Visceral fat is store...
