Pancreatic cancer has historically been one of the toughest diagnoses to face, largely because it is difficult to catch early and tends to move incredibly fast. In fact, data published by PubMed Central indicate that the overall five-year survival rate is just 13%. For a long time, effective treatments were few and far between, with most experimental drugs unfortunately fizzling out during early clinical trials. Fortunately, that narrative is finally changing thanks to a major medical breakthrough that is injecting some much-needed hope into the equation.

According to The New York Times, a promising new experimental drug called daraxonrasib is shaking things up. It recently became the first drug in a clinical trial to substantially extend the lifespans of patients fighting this aggressive disease. What makes this milestone even more exciting is its potential reach; scientists believe this same innovative strategy could also hold the key to treating deadly lung and colon tumors, marking a massive step forward in cancer research.

What’s happening in your body

Your pancreas is a crucial organ that sits right behind the lower part of your stomach and produces important enzymes that help your body digest your food. It also naturally produces hormones, such as insulin, to help regulate your blood sugar levels.

When pancreatic cancer starts, the healthy cells in this organ begin to mutate and change in dangerous ways. These mutated cells begin to multiply uncontrollably, eventually forming a deadly mass or a tumor. As explained by the Cleveland Clinic, these tumors typically develop within the enzyme-producing ducts.

The growing tumor eventually blocks the important ducts, stopping normal digestion and causing severe body pain. The mutated KRAS protein drives this incredibly fast growth, making the deadly cancer spread very rapidly, says the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.

Common causes

Medical scientists do not know exactly what causes these dangerous pancreatic cells to mutate so aggressively. However, they have clearly identified several specific risk factors that greatly increase the likelihood of the disease. Smoking tobacco is a huge risk. In fact, some scientists have estimated that one in four, or one in five cases of pancreatic cancer, are caused by smoking cigarettes, notes the Johns Hopkins Medicine. People who actively smoke cigarettes are twice as likely to get pancreatic cancer eventually.

Your advanced age and your personal family history also play a very important role. If your parents or your siblings had it, your personal genetic risk is much, much higher. Certain inherited genetic syndromes can also greatly increase your overall risk. Another cause involves heavy daily alcohol use and terrible chronic dietary habits over time.

Long-standing diabetes is a very strong and proven cancer risk factor. If you have had severe diabetes for years, your pancreas is already working incredibly hard, the National Cancer Institute explains. This constant physical strain might encourage healthy cells to mutate and eventually become fully cancerous. Also, a sudden and completely new diagnosis of diabetes in an older adult is very concerning. It can actually be a very early and important warning sign of a hidden pancreatic tumor, which can destroy your insulin-making cells entirely.

Diagnosis and treatment

Finding pancreatic cancer early is very difficult because the organ hides deep inside your abdominal cavity. Healthcare providers usually use specialized medical imaging tests to detect hidden tumors safely and with high accuracy. CT scans and modern MRI machines produce highly detailed images of the inside of the body. These clear pictures help doctors see exactly where the deadly tumor is growing. Medical experts might also use a specialized endoscopic ultrasound to get a much closer look inside.

If cancer is officially found, the medical treatment depends entirely on how far it has spread. Complex surgery is often the most direct way to treat early-stage pancreatic cancer safely and effectively. The most common surgical procedure is the Whipple, which is incredibly complex and lengthy. The highly trained surgeon successfully removes the head of the pancreas. They also carefully remove parts of the small intestine, the gallbladder and the main bile duct. After removing these parts, the surgeon very carefully reconnects the remaining healthy digestive organs.

Daraxonrasib is changing the lives of pancreatic cancer patients

Daraxonrasib is fundamentally changing the lives of pancreatic cancer patients, offering a powerful beacon of hope where treatment options have historically been tragically limited. As the New York Times notes, this amazing medicine safely shuts down the mutant KRAS protein, a notorious driver of cellular mutation and tumor growth that scientists once considered virtually “undruggable.”

By successfully targeting and neutralizing this specific genetic malfunction, daraxonrasib effectively disrupts the fuel supply to cancer cells, halting their rapid proliferation and opening new doors for patient survival. This breakthrough represents a monumental shift in modern oncology, transforming what was once a devastatingly rapid diagnosis into a much more manageable condition.

How do people catch pancreatic cancer early?

Catching this specific cancer early is incredibly hard because there are absolutely no early physical symptoms. The pancreas is buried very deep inside your abdomen, hiding the growing tumor extremely well naturally. According to the CDC, medical doctors do not currently have a simple screening blood test available.

Most normal people do not feel sick at all until the cancer is very large, unfortunately. However, you can definitely watch closely for subtle and unusual changes in your usual health. Sudden, unexplained weight loss is a strong clue. Being newly diagnosed with severe diabetes without any family history is another major medical warning sign. Another critical early sign is painless jaundice, which mysteriously makes your eyes and your skin yellow.

“New-onset diabetes should always be checked by your primary care doctor,” says Dr. Sanjay S. Reddy, MD, a surgical oncologist and the Division Chief in Surgical Oncology at Fox Chase Cancer Center. “Blood tests and sometimes imaging, like a CT scan or ultrasound, can help find other causes. If there’s a mass in the pancreas, it could be causing the diabetes.”

Can you live without a pancreas?

“Yes, you can live without a pancreas,” explains Dr. Justus Rabach, MD, “but it requires major lifestyle changes. Sometimes, skilled surgeons must absolutely remove the entire organ to stop the deadly cancer from spreading. Removing your pancreas means you must take insulin shots and digestive enzymes for the rest of your life. This change deeply impacts how your body digests food. To stay safe and manage this serious condition, you will need close medical care and careful supervision from your medical expert every single day.”

This major surgical procedure is officially called a total pancreatectomy. Without this vital organ, your body completely loses its natural ability to properly digest food. Your body also completely loses its natural ability to regulate blood sugar levels. This basically means you will immediately develop a very severe form of completely new, daily diabetes.

When to see a doctor

You should absolutely always listen to your body and notice any strange or completely new changes. Persistent belly or lower back pain is a major warning sign. If this terrible pain does not go away naturally, you really need to see a doctor.

Unexplained and incredibly rapid weight loss is another serious physical symptom that needs immediate medical attention. You must also get checked quickly if your skin or eyes suddenly turn bright yellow. Very dark urine and incredibly light-colored stools are highly dangerous.

Sudden, extreme tiredness combined with a complete loss of appetite is also a major warning sign. Ask your primary healthcare provider to check your pancreas, just to be on the safe side.

Bottom line

Pancreatic cancer is a highly dangerous disease, but new targeted medical drugs are literally changing everything. Breakthrough medicines, such as daraxonrasib, successfully target the mutated KRAS protein, substantially extending patients’ lives. By carefully recognizing the early warning signs, you can fight this dangerous disease more effectively and faster.

Frequently Asked Questions

What organ does pancreatic cancer spread to first?

The deadly cancer usually spreads directly to the liver first because it is located nearby.

How long can you live with pancreatic cancer?

Survival totally depends on the exact cancer stage, but exciting new treatments are actively extending lives.

Citations

Kolata G, Robbins R. How an “Impossible” Idea Led to a Pancreatic Cancer Breakthrough. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/12/health/pancreatic-cancer-daraxonrasib-kras.html. Published May 12, 2026.

Rahib L, Coffin T, Kenner B. Factors Driving Pancreatic Cancer Survival Rates. Pancreas. 2025;54(6):e530-e536. doi:https://doi.org/10.1097/MPA.0000000000002489

Mayo Clinic. Pancreatic cancer – Symptoms and causes. Mayo Clinic. Published May 4, 2024. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pancreatic-cancer/symptoms-causes/syc-20355421

Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. KRAS Mutations and Pancreatic Cancer. Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. Published March 27, 2025. https://pancan.org/facing-pancreatic-cancer/kras-mutations/

Johns Hopkins Medicine. Causes & Risk Factors – Pancreatic Cancer  |  Johns Hopkins Pathology. pathology.jhu.edu. https://pathology.jhu.edu/pancreas/causes-risk-factors

Reynolds S. New-Onset Diabetes: An Early Sign of Pancreatic Cancer? – National Cancer Institute. www.cancer.gov. Published July 7, 2021. https://www.cancer.gov/news-events/cancer-currents-blog/2021/pancreatic-cancer-diabetes-early-detection

CDC. Testing for Diabetes. Diabetes. Published 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/diabetes-testing/index.html