What are the main symptoms of Pancreatic Cancer
Signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer are often unnoticeable until the disease appears in its later stages when the tumor becomes large. When the symptoms occur, the most common ones are upper abdominal and lower back pain that often swerve to another spot as one changes position, eight out of ten pancreatic cancer suffers will eventually experience abdominal pain; yellowing of skin and the whites of eyes (jaundice); more than 10% of weight lost due to digestive problems where the bowels do not absorb food properly; malaise (general bodily discomfort or unpleasantness) and depression.
By the time the tumor is detected, the cancer has spread and metabolized to the nearby lymph nodes, liver, or lungs. Approximately 80% of cases of pancreatic cancer appear on the head of the pancreas which is the closest to the bile duct. Jaundice occurs when the bile duct destructs. Blockage of the bile ducts causes itching. The other 20% of pancreatic cancer cases occur on the tail of the pancreas. Tumors usually develop on the tail and block the vein that drains the spleen and blocks the varicose veins around the stomach and esophagus as well.
Other symptoms that may occur are nausea, diarrhea, general weakness, light-colored bowels that may have a clay color, darker urine, blood clots inside the legs, and swollen liver and gallbladder. In rare cases, the hormone secreting portion of the pancreas is affected. This causes the pancreas to produce too much insulin or other hormones. This is called cystadenocarcinoma. Symptoms of cystadenocarcinoma may include chills, muscle spasms, and fatty stools caused by jaundice which is a condition called steatorrheoa. Another symptom is fever and shivering when the temperature is high. Having a temperature may be caused when one has jaundice or an inflamed pancreas. Elevated blood sugar may develop diabetes as the cancer impairs the ability to produce insulin. The vast majority of persons with a recent diagnosis of diabetes do not have pancreatic cancer.
Early detection can happen if one knows signs that can occur before the initial symptoms. Examples of symptoms that sneak up on 4% pancreatic cancer sufferers before they realize they have the illness is having acquiring an adverse taste to tastes they used to enjoy such as coffee, smoking, or wine. This symptoms preceded other symptoms six months before the major, more noticeable symptoms. 1% of pancreatic cancer sufferers had attacks of acute pancreatis more than six months prior to their diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.
If one experiences discomfort and exhibits the symptoms explained above, one should consult a doctor immediately. Pancreatic cancer is considered a silent disease because the symptoms do not appear initially. Therefore if one suspects they may have it, one should not put this thought aside. Early detection makes a difference.
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