Symptoms of pancreatic cancer – 8 surprising signs men should know

Jaundice is the result of a buildup of bilirubin, or bile, in your bloodstream. The bile duct passes through the pancreas, so when cancer cells grow near the head of the pancreas, the tumor can compress the bile duct, which pushes bile back into the bloodstream.

When your skin and the whites of your eyes turn yellow, the true-colored pigment in bile passes through your blood, which is deposited in the skin and fat, says Dr. Labow. Other symptoms associated with jaundice are dark, Coca-Cola-colored urine and light, clayey stools, he adds. “Bilirubin in the gut is what makes the stool brown, and so when it recedes and enters the bloodstream, it can’t get into the gut,” he explains.

The pancreas plays an important role in fat digestion, says Dr. Labow. If the bile and pancreatic enzymes do not make their way to the intestines due to a blockage – for example, a tumor – undigested fat will increase the fat content of the stool, making it fatty. It might even float above the water in your toilet.

“The pancreas is located deep in the abdomen, so sometimes there is irritation to the nerves around the spine. [because of] the cancer is there, “says Dr Labow.” This can cause a stabbing pain in the upper mid back. “

Most of the time, it won’t be excruciating five-alarm pain. “Sometimes people feel like they are pulling back, and they think it will be better after a few days and it never really does,” he adds.

Pancreatic cancer can also cause pancreatitis, which is inflammation of the pancreas that can cause abdominal pain. You don’t have to have both back pain and abdominal pain – it could be either, Dr. Labow says.

“Some cancers secrete [compounds] in the blood which can cause the body to break down, ”says Dr. Labow. This can lead to rapid weight loss due to the breakdown of fatty tissue and skeletal muscle. “Even if you eat non-stop, you won’t be able to gain or maintain weight,” says Dr. Labow.

While this applies to many types of cancer, there is another reason why pancreatic cancer in particular can lead to rapid weight loss. “You don’t absorb fat and protein like you normally would, so even if you eat well, you don’t necessarily absorb all of the calories you eat,” says Dr. Labow.

Cancer in general can be linked to nausea and vomiting, but it is especially common with pancreatic cancer because of the important role the pancreas plays in digestion.

“The pancreas is located right next to the stomach and duodenum, which is the first part of the small intestine,” says Dr. Labow. “A large lump could push on it, which can affect the way food leaves the stomach and goes through the digestive tract. So your stomach may not empty like it normally does.”

In some cases, you may be able to feel your gallbladder in the upper right quadrant of your abdomen, coming out from under your rib cage.

“An enlarged gallbladder can occur because of the way bile flows through the bile duct,” says Dr. Labow. “If the bile duct and gallbladder are blocked [as a result of pancreatic cancer], then it can sometimes make the gallbladder quite big and distended, and you can feel it. “

If one of your legs is swollen and painful, it could be a sign of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which is a blood clot that forms in a vein deep in your body, usually in your leg.

“Cancer in general is known to increase the risk of blood clots in patients because cancer can [induce a hypercoagulable state], or something that causes you to clot abnormally, ”says Dr. Labow.

It becomes especially dangerous if a blood clot breaks off and travels to the lungs, called a pulmonary embolism, says Dr. Labow. “[Look for] any sudden shortness of breath for no good reason, or a prolonged rapid heart rate for no reason, “he says. Pulmonary embolism can be fatal, but it can be treated if you catch it, so get these symptoms checked right away.

While most of the above symptoms are usually not caused by pancreatic cancer, the old adage “prevention is better than cure” still applies. “Any symptom that doesn’t have a good explanation or persists for more than a few days should be investigated in one way or another,” says Dr Labow, even if it’s just a call for help. your doctor.

Although rare, pancreatic cancer can cause diabetes, according to the American Cancer Society. This is because the cancer destroys the insulin-producing cells. When this happens, people may feel more thirsty or hungry than normal. Some patients may be asymptomatic, but changes in blood sugar levels can be detected by blood tests.