Pancreatic cancer, which is the type of malignant tumor of this organ, can show some symptoms, such as yellow skin, itchy body, pain in the belly, back pain or weight loss, for example, and the amount and intensity vary from according to the size of the tumor, the affected site of the pancreas, the surrounding organs affected and whether or not there are metastases.
Most cases of pancreatic cancer do not show symptoms in the initial phase, or only very mild, which makes it difficult to identify. However, when these symptoms are intense or when other signs and symptoms appear, it is possible to be at an advanced stage.
Main signs and symptoms
In most cases, cancer develops in the cells that produce digestive juices, known as exocrine pancreatic cancer, and can cause symptoms such as:
- Yellow skin and eyes, when it reaches the liver or compresses the ducts that carry bile; Dark urine, which happens due to the accumulation of bilirubin in the blood, due to the obstruction of bile transport; Whitish or fatty stools, due to the difficulty of bile and bilirubin reaching the intestine; Itchy skin, also caused by the accumulation of bilirubin in the blood; Strong abdominal pain that radiates to the back, when the tumor grows and compresses organs neighboring the pancreas; Persistent poor digestion, when it blocks the release of pancreatic juice into the intestine, making it difficult to digest fatty foods; Lack of appetite and weight loss due to changes in digestion and hormonal changes caused by cancer; Frequent nausea and vomiting, when the tumor blocks and compresses the stomach; Formation of blood clots or bleeding, due to interference with coagulation caused by hormonal changes of the disease, and the damage caused to the organs and circulation around Diabetes development, which can happen when the tumor interferes with the metabolism of the pancreas, changing its insulin production;
In addition, this type of cancer can also develop in the cells responsible for producing hormones, and in such cases, common signs include excess acidity and frequent onset of stomach ulcers, sudden changes in blood sugar levels, increased liver or severe diarrhea, for example.
Since in its initial stage this type of cancer does not cause the appearance of symptoms, most patients only discover the diagnosis at a more advanced or terminal stage, when the cancer has already spread to other places, making treatment more difficult.
Understand how this type of cancer is treated.
When to go to the doctor
Having one or some of these symptoms does not indicate the presence of cancer, however, it is advisable to consult a general practitioner, gastroenterologist or endocrinologist when one or more symptoms appear intensely or that take more than 1 week to disappear.
In these cases, if the cause is not found with the clinical evaluation and initial blood tests, a computed tomography scan can be done to identify if there are changes in the pancreas, and blood tests to see if there are changes in the levels of some hormones, that can confirm the diagnosis.
Main causes of pancreatic cancer
The appearance of pancreatic cancer seems to be related to genetic changes in the organ, and some types can be hereditary, although the exact cause is not known.
There are also some risk factors that predispose to the development of cancer, such as age over 50, smoking, drinking alcohol in excess and eating excess fat, fried foods and red meat.
