What is Pancreatic Cancer?

What is Pancreatic Cancer? What is Pancreatic Cancer?

What is Pancreatic Cancer?

 The pancreas is an organ located horizontally in the lower part of the abdomen. It is responsible for distributing enzymes that aid digestion and hormones that help manage blood sugar throughout the body. In this type of cancer, surgical interventions, chemotherapy, radiation therapy are used. Pancreatic cancer symptoms usually do not appear until the disease progresses. Most of the cases are detected in the growing stages of cancer and it has the feature of spreading rapidly to other organs. Early location is troublesome, yet for individuals with pancreatic growths and a family background of pancreatic disease, some screening can assist with identifying the issue early. 

 What are the Symptoms of Pancreatic Cancer? Symptoms of the disease at first glance include: 

 Severe pain radiating from the upper abdomen to your back Loss of appetite, unwanted and unexplained weight loss Depression high blood sugar Abdominal bloating Blood coagulation Tiredness Early pancreatic cancer often does not show any symptoms. When it causes symptoms, it is usually very large or has already spread outside the pancreas. Having one or more of the following symptoms does not mean that a person has pancreatic cancer. However, if you have any of these symptoms, you may want to consider seeing a doctor to find out the underlying cause. 

 Jaundice and its related symptoms Jaundice

means yellowing of the eyes and skin. One of the first symptoms of most people with pancreatic cancer (almost all people with ampulla cancer) is jaundice. 

 Jaundice is caused by the buildup of bilirubin, a dark yellow-brown substance in the liver. Normally, the liver contains a fluid called bile, which contains bilirubin. Bile enters the intestines through the bile duct and helps to break down the fats there. When the common bile duct is blocked, bile cannot reach the intestines, thus increasing the amount of bilirubin in the body. 

 Cancerous tissues

What is Pancreatic Cancer?

that begin to grow in the head of the pancreas are close to the common bile duct. These cancers can put pressure on the duct and cause jaundice, although small, so tumors can sometimes be detected at an early stage. However, cancers that start in the body or tail of the pancreas do not affect the duct until they begin to spread from the pancreas to the body. When pancreatic cancer begins to spread, it often tends to first spread to the liver, which can also cause jaundice. 

 Besides yellowing of the whites of the eyes and skin, there are other signs of jaundice: 

 Dark-colored urine: One of the first signs of jaundice is dark-colored urine. As the bilirubin levels in the blood increase, the color of the urine turns brown. 

 Light-colored and oily stools: Bilirubin normally gives stool its brown color. In some cases, bile duct obstruction can cause light or gray stools. Also, because of pancreatic enzymes that don't have access to the intestines to help break down fats, the stool becomes greasy and can float in the toilet. 

 Itchy skin: 

When bilirubin accumulates in the skin, the skin turns yellow and starts to itch. 

 Abdominal and Back Pain Pain in the abdomen (belly) and back is common in pancreatic cancer. Cancers that begin in the body or tail of the pancreas can cause pain as they grow by pressing on other nearby organs. Also, cancer can spread to the nerves around the pancreas, which often causes back pain. 

 Weight loss and Anorexia Unwanted weight loss is common among people with pancreatic cancer. They experience loss of appetite and tend to lose weight uncontrollably and quickly. 

 Nausea and Vomiting 

If cancer forms near the stomach, it will press on the stomach and partially block the passageway, making it difficult for food to pass. This can cause nausea and vomiting after eating. 

 Gallbladder or Liver Enlargement In situations where malignant growth obstructs the bile pipe, bile can develop in the gallbladder and the bladder might expand than ordinary. In some cases, a doctor may notice this swelling during a physical exam. It is usually found as a lump on the right side of the rib cage. Imaging tests are also ideal for detecting the growing sac. 

 If pancreatic cancer has started to grow and spread, especially near the liver, it can also affect the liver and cause it to grow. The doctor can feel the enlarged part of the liver under the right rib cage during the examination. 

 Blood Clot In some cases, the first clue to whether a person has pancreatic cancer is usually a blood clot that has formed in the large veins of the person's legs. This is called deep vein thrombosis or DVT. Symptoms include pain, swelling, redness, and warmth in the leg where the clot is located. However, a blood clot does not always indicate cancer. 

 Diabetes Rarely, pancreatic cancer destroys the cells that make insulin, causing diabetes (high blood sugar). Its symptoms are extreme thirst, constant hunger, and frequent urination. There are cases where pancreatic cancer does not affect body blood sugar levels very much but can still cause minor changes that can be detected by blood tests. 

 What Are Rare Pancreatic Cancer Symptoms?

 Islet cell tumors, also called neuroendocrine tumors, consist of cells in the pancreas that produce hormones. Islet cell tumors account for less than 5% of all pancreatic tumors. Islet cell tumors such as pancreatic adenocarcinoma can cause abdominal pain, weight loss, nausea, and vomiting. Hormones released by an islet cell tumor can also cause rare pancreatic cancer symptoms, including: 

 Excess insulin: Sweating, anxiety, dizziness, and fainting from low blood sugar Excess glucagon: Diarrhea, excessive thirst, and urination, weight loss Excess gastrin: Abdominal pain, bleeding stomach ulcer, reflux, weight loss Excess somatostatin: Diarrhea, weight loss, abdominal pain, foul-smelling and greasy stools Excess vasoactive intestinal peptide: Watery diarrhea, abdominal cramps, facial flushing.

 What are the Symptoms of Insidious Pancreatic Cancer?

 A small number of people with pancreatic cancer have findings that allow early detection. Unfortunately, no predictable pattern has yet been identified for this disease.

The rarity and uncertainty of the findings, which are necessary for early diagnosis, point to the difficulty in their use. However, symptoms such as involuntary weight loss, loss of appetite, yellowing of the eyes or skin, dark urine, or light-colored stools should be cause for concern. Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are also bothersome. If you think that something is wrong with your body, do not forget to see a specialist.