Apr 1, 2024, 06:32 PM IST

8 symptoms of pancreatic cancer

Varnika Srivastava

Pancreatic cancer often leads to fatigue, physical weakness, sleep issues, and depression, but these symptoms are often caused by other factors rather than pancreatic cancer.

Fatigue/weakness

Jaundice, a yellowing of the eyes and skin, is a common first symptom in most individuals with pancreatic and ampullary cancer.

Jaundice

People with pancreatic cancer often experience unintentional weight loss due to their lack of appetite.

Weight loss or lack of appetite

Pancreatic cancer often causes abdominal or back pain, often due to the cancer's growth and potential spread to nearby organs and nerves, though it's not the most common cause.

Inflammation Reduction

Cancer pressing on the stomach's far end can partially block it, causing nausea, vomiting, and pain, especially worse after eating.

Vomiting/nausea

Cancer can block the bile duct, causing gallbladder bile buildup, and can enlarge the liver, especially if cancer has spread, as seen during physical exams and imaging tests.

Liver enlargement

Pancreatic cancer often begins with a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in the leg or pulmonary embolism (PE) in the lungs, but most blood clots are caused by other factors.

Blood clots

Pancreatic cancer can cause diabetes by destroying insulin-making cells, causing symptoms like thirst, hunger, and frequent urination. Small changes in blood sugar levels can be detected through blood tests.

Diabetes

Disclaimer: This content including advice gives generic information only and is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion.