It always helps to understand the early pancreatic cancer symptoms. Not only does it help you stay alert of any potential problems but it also helps you lead a good and healthy lifestyle and make sure that such a disease never happens to you in the first place. But, at the same time, there is no doubt that the changing lifestyle changes in the modern era have been playing an instrumental role in the development of certain diseases. And pancreatic cancer is one of those ailments that might come into existence because of a lack of proper lifestyle.
Growth and detection of pancreatic cancer
If you don’t know already, pancreatic cancer might often go undetected until it has advanced into the next stage and when it happens, it often becomes more difficult to treat. In the majority of cases, the symptoms of pancreatic cancer only develop once cancer itself has grown into a considerable size and has begun spreading.
It’s also important to know that more than 95% of pancreatic cancer types belong to the exocrine class. Let’s discuss the symptoms of this type of cancer first and then we shall discuss the symptoms accompanied by other rarer forms of pancreatic cancer.
Pancreatic Cancer Symptoms
Well, the pancreatic cancer symptoms might vary depending on the location of pancreatic cancer. In its initial stages, pancreatic cancer is mostly silent and seems painless even when it grows. By the time it becomes large enough to show various symptoms, cancer has already grown and spread outside of the pancreas. Here are the common symptoms of pancreatic cancer:
- Jaundice: You must know that pancreatic cancer blocks the very duct that releases bile into your intestine. As a result of the blockage, the bile ingredients start building up in your blood. This might eventually turn your eyes and skin yellow, which is also called jaundice. Such a blockage might also cause light-colored stools, dark urine, and itching.
- Abdominal and back pain: Pancreatic cancer often leads to a dull ache in and around your upper abdomen and the pain radiates to your back. This kind of pain is often chronic in nature and it might come and go in irregular intervals.
- Bloating: Some people who suffer from pancreatic cancer might sense an early fullness with meals. They may also experience an uncomfortable swelling of the abdomen.
- Nausea
- Vomiting
Generally, cancer symptoms appear earlier in the head of the pancreas. Cancer in the pancreas’ body and tail of the pancreas appears later than usual.
Rare pancreatic cancers
Islet cell tumors, which are often called neuroendocrine tumors, might arise from the very cells inside the pancreas that generates hormones. Interestingly, Islet cell tumors are one of the rarest forms and account for less than 5% of all the cases.
Islet cell tumors might lead to the following symptoms:
- Abdominal Pain
- Weight Loss
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Sweating
- Anxiety
- Lightheadedness
- Fainting from low blood sugar
- Diarrhea
In this regard, it’s worth noting that incorporating any of these symptoms doesn’t necessarily mean that the affected person has pancreatic cancer. It’s always possible that any other disease or health malfunction might have caused these symptoms to appear. But whenever you experience any of these symptoms, consider seeing your doctor.
