Symptoms of Pancreatic Cancer
The symptoms you may experience with pancreatic cancer are vague and hard to diagnose. Proper diagnosis requires screening and special pancreatic testing to determine if an individual has the cancer. It is considered a rare form of cancer and hereditary. Environmental situations and diet can potentially cause the cancer as well. If you have family that has had pancreatic cancer, then screening is definitely recommended. The symptoms you may experience with this cancer do not mean that you definitely have it; they should just be treated as a guideline to proper diagnosis and treatment.
Individuals with a high risk factor of developing pancreatic cancer are those with it in their family medical history. Age and race also play large roles in developing pancreatic cancer. The symptoms you should look out for and get checked immediately are below:
Abdominal pain that occurs consistently 3 or so hours after eating, or gets worse upon laying down to rest. This pain can sometimes be felt in your back on the side where your pancreas is located. Particularly greasy foods may increase this pain.
Jaundice is a major concern for many individuals with pancreas problems, and it is one of the symptoms of pancreatic cancer. Jaundice is noticed in many individuals without pancreas conditions so it isn’t the best warning sign to look out for. It is caused when your blood is filled with too much bilibruin, but it can also be caused by lack of sunlight or poor diet. Those with hepatitis often have jaundice. If you are noticing the signs of jaundice in conjunction with any other pancreatic cancer symptom, then seek medical attention.
Loss of appetite is possible in all individuals that are even remotely sick. However, pancreas dysfunction usually leads to not wanting to eat at all, or not being able to keep food down. If your family has a history of pancreatic cancer then this is something to look out for. When paired with other symptoms treatment is recommended as well as routine screening.
Weight Loss that is rapid or occurs out of nowhere despite unchanged habits can be a serious problem. Loss of appetite usually leads to weight loss, but if you haven’t changed your appetite then weight loss should not be occurring. When the pancreas quits working properly then it overproduces certain hormones or enzymes, or not enough of them. This can cause weak metabolizing of food that you ingest, and also leads to malnutrition. Patients with cancer often lose dramatic amounts of weight, and it is very important that you try to maintain a healthy body weight.
Depression is also a symptom of pancreatic cancer, but that is exceptionally vague and should be taken too seriously unless the above symptoms are also noted. As always regular check ups and cancer screenings can help with diagnosis.
Itchy dry skin and other minor skin conditions can point towards it as well. If a dermatologist writes it off as a skin condition and you suspect otherwise, please seek a second opinion.
Changes in bowel movements and urine can also indicate a problem. Strong smelling eliminated waste can mean something is wrong inside of your body. Even if it isn’t a pancreas problem then it could be something else. Sticky and wrong colored stool is something to always watch for.
Different types of pancreatic cancer may produce different symptoms or warning signs. If your family has had pancreatic cancer history then yearly screenings are a good idea so that it can be treated quickly. While pancreas cancer is rare it is treatable in the early stages. Aggressive cancer can spread rapidly to the liver and other nearby organs if not treated.