pancreatic cancer symptoms | Symptoms of pancreatic cancer

Symptoms of pancreatic cancer

The symptoms of pancreatic cancer are very discreet, even undetectable, which explains why his diagnosis is often late and his care particularly long and complicated.

Pancreatic cancer: asymptomatic cancer?
Pancreatic cancer is a cancer that remains asymptomatic for a long time. No sign of his presence. In addition, other pathologies can cause the same symptoms as pancreatic cancer, making it more difficult to diagnose.

Finally when symptoms end up appearing, it is that the tumor has already progressed a lot and reached an advanced stage.

Sometimes pancreatic cancer can be discovered by chance, during a routine examination. If cysts are discovered in a fortuitous way, they are surgically removed preventively because they are premalignant lesions. As a result of the operation, the analysis of the withdrawn area may reveal a pancreatic tumor.

Symptoms of pancreatic cancer
The symptoms will vary depending on the location of the tumor. The latter may:

interfere with the production of digestive enzymes or insulin;
or obstruct the pancreatic ducts.
Finally, although they do not automatically think of pancreatic cancer, here are symptoms that must alert:

A jaundice (or jaundice) of sudden onset: the skin and the white of the eye take a yellowish hue and the stool becomes colorless and the urine dark due to a defect of escape of the bile. This is due to the obstruction of the bile duct potentially due to a tumor of the head of the pancreas.
Intense and diffuse epigastric pain (in the upper abdomen) radiating under the ribs and back (in a belt).
Unexplained and rapid weight loss associated with a lack of appetite.
If these first three signs are brought together, they must make reference to the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.

We can also find:
Nausea and vomiting, especially after meals (due to obstruction of the intestine by the tumor);
A sensation of fullness even after a light meal, bloating or gas;
Diarrhea or constipation
Fatty stools due to poor digestion of fats normally performed by pancreatic enzymes;
Acute pancreatitis or the onset of diabetes that is a sign of appeal in 5% of cases;
Itching (pruritus);
Thrombosis with risks of phlebitis because of the substances secreted by the tumor and which will lead to coagulation anomalies;
Fatigue and lack of energy with a feeling of weakness, weariness.