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Signs, Symptoms, and Stages of Pancreatic Cancer

The pancreas is located behind the stomach and is responsible for producing enzymes and hormones—insulin and glucagon—to maintain a healthy blood sugar level. Due to the in-depth location of the pancreas, it is almost impossible to notice the development of cancerous tumors in the pancreas until it grows too large. Pancreatic cancer occurs when malignant cells develop in the part of the pancreas, which predominantly affects the functioning of the organ.

Know the pancreatic cancer signs and symptoms

Around 50% of pancreatic cancer cases are diagnosed in people aged 75 or over. In most cases, there are no visible pancreatic cancer signs and symptoms, especially during the early stages. Having one or more of the common signs doesn’t mean that one has pancreatic cancer, but if one experiences any of these, it is crucial to notify their healthcare professional. Some common symptoms of the condition are as follows:

Jaundice

Jaundice is characterized by yellowing of the eyes and skin, which is one of the common symptoms in people with pancreatic cancer. It occurs due to the accumulation of bilirubin in the liver. Normally, the liver releases the bile, which has bilirubin that goes through the bile duct into the intestine to break down fats and release them through stool.

When the bile duct gets blocked, the bile cannot enter the intestine, leading to the build-up of bilirubin. When pancreatic cancer occurs, it can spread through the liver and result in jaundice. The common signs of the condition are given below:

Dark urine
The initial symptom of jaundice is dark-colored urine due to the increased level of bilirubin.

Light-colored or greasy stools
If the bile duct is blocked, the stool will be light-colored or gray due to the lack of bilirubin. In addition, if the bile cannot break down the fats, the stools may appear greasy.

Skin itching
When the bilirubin accumulates in the body, it will result in itchy skin, eventually turning yellow.

Besides pancreatic cancer, jaundice is also associated with gallstones, hepatitis, and other chronic liver diseases.

Back pain

Back pain or belly pain is another pancreatic cancer symptom. When cancer begins in the pancreas, it will grow large and spread to nearby organs. Due to this, nerves surrounding the pancreas will lead to back pain.

Reduced appetite

Sudden or unexplained loss of appetite is a common symptom of pancreatic cancer.

Nausea
Once cancer reaches the end of the stomach, it will partially block it, making it hard for the stomach to digest the food. This will eventually cause symptoms like nausea or vomiting, which may worsen after consuming the food.

Liver or gallbladder enlargement

When the cancer cells block the bile duct, the bile will accumulate in the gallbladder, resulting in enlargement. In some cases, pancreatic cancer can also enlarge the liver, leading to chronic conditions.

Blood clots

In some instances, the blood clots in the larger vein in the leg, known as deep vein thrombosis or DVT, could be a sign of pancreatic cancer. It comprises the symptoms of pain, swelling, irritation, and redness in the affected leg. The clot travels to the lungs and causes troubled breathing or chest pain. This blood clot in the lungs is known as pulmonary embolism. Nonetheless, blood clots can happen for various reasons, including cancer.

Diabetes mellitus

In rare situations, pancreatic cancer and diabetes mellitus can occur together to damage the insulin-secreting cells in the pancreas. The common signs of the condition are increased thirst, excessive hunger, frequent urination, and fatigue. Also, pancreatic cancer can cause minor fluctuations in the blood sugar level.

Stages and survival rate

The estimation of prognosis on how much cancer is in the patient’s body is known as staging. The types are as follows:

Stage 0
Abnormal cells grow in the top layer of pancreatic duct cells but don’t spread.

Stage I
Cancer is confined to the pancreas but has grown to 2 cm but less than 4 cm.

Stage II
Cancer grows over 4 cm and spreads to lymph nodes.

Stage III
Cancer cells expand to the nearby blood vessels.

Stage IV
The cancer spreads to distant organs.

Pancreatic cancer is difficult to treat, especially in stage IV. The survival rate depends on the tumor type, location, and advanced level. The pancreatic cancer survival rate and general health can be improved with surgical treatment and healthy lifestyle changes.

One may seem confused and anxious after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The condition may affect each person differently. Even though it is a challenging time, one must ensure to manage their day-to-day life with an appropriate treatment focused on easing the symptoms and preventing the growth of pancreatic cancer.

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