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The news of Jerry Springer’s sudden death on Thursday shocked fans, as the cause was later confirmed to be pancreatic cancer.
Springer’s longtime friend Rabbi Sandford Kopnick, who visited him just last week, told PEOPLE that Springer “was a kind and generous person who was not really best pictured on his television show.”
Kopnick said he was “a remarkable family man, and he was somebody who understood what it means to pay it forward.”
The 79-year-old host of the “The Jerry Springer Show,” according to his friend, “[hadn’t] been sick for a long time.”
It’s estimated that in 2022, pancreatic cancer impacted the lives of 6,900 Canadians. In Canada, only about 10 per cent of people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer survive for at least five years after diagnosis.
The pancreas, a part of the digestive system, is a pear-shaped gland located behind the stomach. Its duct connects the gland to the first part of the small intestine, which receives partially digested food from the stomach.
Pancreatic cancer forms when cells in the pancreas change and no longer behave normally, according to the Canadian Cancer Society. It most commonly starts in cells of the pancreatic duct.
It’s said about 95 per cent of all cancerous tumours in the pancreas start in exocrine cells, which make and release juices that help with digestion. These cancers are called ductal adenocarcinomas.
Pancreatic Cancer Canada says the signs and symptoms of the cancerous tumour can be “confusing to both patients and healthcare providers.”
The signs can be vague, and commonly occur with other conditions.
Generally, the symptoms can include:
According to Pancreatic Cancer Canada, those who experience one or more of these symptoms should talk to their physician.
Some risk factors for the cancer are “non-modifiable,” said Pancreatic Cancer Canada.
Men are slightly more likely to develop pancreatic cancer, and the risk of cancer development increases by age. About 90 per cent of those who are diagnosed are aged 55 and up.
Chronic pancreatitis and long-standing diabetes can also increase a person’s chances of developing pancreatic cancer.
Family history can also have an impact, as Pancreatic Cancer Canada said between five and 10 per cent of pancreatic cancers result from hereditary factors.
Some factors, however, include habits and environmental factors that can be modified to reduce risk.
These include:
Smokers are two-to-three times more likely to develop pancreatic cancer than non-smokers, according to the agency.
A diet high in cholesterol, fried foods and red meat may increase risk of the cancer, while a diet high in fruits, vegetables and fibre may reduce risk. (YahooNews)
