Pancreatic cancer is one of the most fatal types of cancer since it grows and spreads rapidly and is often diagnosed in its late stages. While these symptoms may be caused by other health conditions, here are seven warning signs of pancreatic cancer that can help with early detection.
1. Jaundice
Jaundice is caused by the abnormally high levels of bilirubin which is a substance that carries oxygen in the red blood cells. This symptom causes the skin, eyes and urine to turn yellow.
2. Diabetes
Without the pancreas producing the hormone insulin, the body cannot move glucose out of the blood and into the cells. Diabetes is one of the early warning signs of pancreatic cancer because tumors can also produce chemicals that may disrupt the main beneift of insulin.
The link between the onset of diabetes and pancreatic cancer is a fairly newly discovery, Natural News said. However, a study published by Mayo Clinic stated that 40 percent of pancreatic cancer patients were diagnosed with diabetes a year or two before they discovered they had pancreatic cancer.
3. Back and abdominal pain
Tumors that start in the pancreas can grow and start to press on nearby organs, which can cause pain. The pain can also spread to the back especially when a person lies down or worsen after finishing a meal.
4. Sudden and unexplained weight loss
Since cancerous cells deny healthy cells of nutrients, cancer forces people to sudden and unexplained weight loss. However, weight loss is more likely to be experienced by patients with pancreatic cancer since the pancreas produces digestive enzymes that help nutrients be absorbed by the body. Since the tumor disrupts the production, the body will have a harder time to digest food, NHS reported.
5. Digestive problems
Pancreatic cancer may cause digestive problems such as nausea, vomiting and greasy stools since the tumor may create blockage for pancreatic juices and food to get through. Experiencing digestive problems is one of the early warning signs of pancreatic cancer especially when pain is experienced after eating.
