Pancreatic Cancer
Symptoms of Pancreatic Cancer
Most symptoms of pancreatic cancer are non-specific and can be caused by other health conditions. The lack of obvious clinical signs and symptoms for pancreatic cancer often delays diagnosis, so it's important to tell your doctor if any of these symptoms occur and do not go away.
Symptoms of pancreatic cancer include:
Jaundice occurs when bilirubin, a substance produced in the liver, builds up in the blood. Bilirubin travels down the bile duct and passes through the pancreas just before emptying into the duodenum (see Figure). If the bile duct becomes blocked, the level of bilirubin in blood rises, causing noticeably yellow skin and eyes. Jaundice is present in about 50% of pancreatic cancer cases.
Change of color in urine and stool: urine may turn orange or the color of iced tea. Stool may turn yellow or reddish, or become grey or chalky-white. These are also symptoms of a blocked bile duct.
Pain occurs when a pancreatic tumor presses against or infiltrates nearby nerves. Typical pancreatic pain is dull, fairly constant and mostly localized to the mid and upper back and the upper abdomen. Sometimes the pain starts in the abdomen and radiates to the back or shoulder.
Indigestion (especially with fatty foods), lack of appetite, nausea, weight loss: these symptoms may occur when a pancreatic tumor presses against the stomach and small intestine. Problems with digestion may also occur for complex reasons not specifically related to the location of the tumor.
Fatigue is common, even in the absence of mechanical gastric outlet obstruction.
Sudden-onset diabetes or a sudden change in blood-sugar control in diabetics: Diabetes may be an early symptom of pancreatic cancer as well as a risk factor. The exact association between diabetes and pancreatic cancer is still being studied.
Diarrhea is a less common symptom. Sometimes there may be obstruction of the pancreatic duct, causing malabsorption and steatorrhea (greasy, foul-smelling bowel movements). |
