What Are the Early Warning Signs of Pancreatic Cancer?

Approximately 64,000 people in the US are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer each year. The disease claims 50,000 lives annually. It is a particularly aggressive type of cancer of the digestive tract, with a 5-year survival rate of 12%. Knowing how to recognize pancreatic cancer symptoms can help with early detection when it is most curable. Please continue reading to learn about the warning signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer.

What is the pancreas?

The pancreas is a long, flat organ of the digestive system that is tucked behind the stomach. It makes digestive juices and hormones (insulin) that help to regulate blood sugar. Both cancerous and non-cancerous growths can develop in the pancreas. The most common type of pancreatic cancer is an exocrine pancreatic cancer called pancreatic adenocarcinoma, which accounts for 90% of pancreatic cancers.

What are signs that your pancreas is not working properly?

The pancreas does not work properly if it becomes inflamed. Signs and symptoms of acute pancreatitis and chronic pancreatitis include upper abdominal pain, pain that is worse with eating, abdominal pain that radiates to the back, tenderness when touching the abdomen on physical exam, rapid pulse, fever, nausea, vomiting, unintended weight loss, and steatorrhea with bowel movements (foul-smelling, greasy stools).

What are the risk factors for pancreatic cancer?

The risk factors for pancreatic cancer include smoking, diabetes (high blood sugar), an unhealthy diet, chronic pancreatitis, obesity, age over 65 years, a family history of pancreatic cancer, and a family history of certain genetic syndromes. An unhealthy diet, smoking, and long-term diabetes increase the risk of developing pancreatic cancer more than other risk factors.

What is the first symptom of pancreatic cancer?

The symptoms of pancreatic cancer can vary from person to person. However, many pancreatic cancer patients report jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes due to an excess of a dark yellow-brown substance called bilirubin) as the first sign of pancreatic cancer. Another common symptom is unexplained weight loss.

What are the early symptoms of pancreatic cancer?

Signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer frequently do not develop until the disease has reached an advanced stage. The first symptoms can vary from person to person. Common symptoms of pancreatic cancer include:

Pain in the upper abdomen
Pain in the abdomen that radiates to the back
Unexplained weight loss
Unexplained fatigue
Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)
Itchy skin
Dark colored urine
Light colored stool
Sudden onset diabetes or difficult-to-control diabetes
Blood clots
Nausea
Vomiting
Loss of appetite

What are three warning signs of pancreatic cancer?

Jaundice

Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes) is one of the early signs of pancreatic cancer and is experienced by most pancreatic cancer patients. It occurs because the tumor blocks the liver’s bile duct, causing bilirubin to build up, which leads to jaundice. If the cancer starts in a part of the pancreas that presses on the common bile duct in the early stages, this leads to earlier detection of the pancreatic cancer. However, if the tumor is in the tail of the pancreas, it may not cause jaundice until the more advanced stages when the cancer has spread throughout the pancreas and to nearby organs such as the liver.

Pain in the upper abdomen

Another common symptom of pancreatic cancer is pain in the upper part of the abdomen. It occurs when the cancerous tumor presses upon adjacent organs like the stomach small intestine, and nerves surrounding the pancreas, causing pain to spread to the back.

Unintended weight loss

The tumor pressing on the stomach can make eating difficult. Other symptoms of pancreatic cancer, such as nausea and vomiting, can also lead to a decreased appetite. In addition, the body is unable to absorb nutrients from food because the pancreas is not making digestive enzymes. All these gastrointestinal issues can contribute to weight loss in people with pancreatic cancer.

What does pancreatic cancer pain feel like in the beginning?

In the beginning, pancreatic cancer typically causes a dull pain in the upper part of the abdomen. This pain may radiate to the back. Initially, the pain may come and go. However, as the tumor grows in size, it can cause severe pain that lasts longer or does not go away. Pancreatic cancer pain is often worse when lying down and after eating.

When to seek care for pancreatic cancer symptoms?

Many of the symptoms of pancreatic cancer can be due to other less dangerous causes. However, you should not ignore these symptoms. Make an appointment to see your healthcare provider if your symptoms have been present for more than 1-2 weeks.

Diagnostic tests for pancreatic cancer include blood tests, imaging tests such as endoscopic ultrasound and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), and tissue biopsy. Several treatment options are available to people with pancreatic cancer, including surgery to remove the pancreas, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. The important thing is to undergo timely diagnostic testing so that pancreatic cancer can be found in the early stages when it is most curable.

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