Recognize the symptoms of pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer is a type of cancer that often appears without obvious symptoms. The absence of obvious symptoms in the early stages and the rapid spread of cancer cells to other organs makes pancreatic cancer very dangerous.
The pancreas is an organ located behind the stomach. This organ functions to produce the hormone insulin which regulates blood glucose (endocrine function) and produces digestive enzymes to break down food in the intestine (exocrine function). Pancreatic cancer occurs when pancreatic cells grow out of control because of changes in genetic characteristics.
People with pancreatic cancer have the lowest life expectancy compared to other types of people with cancer, less than 4%. Indeed, the symptoms of pancreatic cancer are not specific and are usually only detected if they have spread.
Recognizing and knowing the symptoms of pancreatic cancer can help detect this disease early, so that treatment can be given as soon as possible.
Symptoms of Exocrine Pancreatic Cancer
Here are some of the symptoms of pancreatic cancer that attacks the exocrine part of the pancreas:
1. jaundice
Jaundice or jaundice is a yellowish condition on the skin or eyes due to increased bilirubin. Bilirubin is a brownish yellow substance produced by the liver that has flowed into the intestine as bile sap. Its function is to digest fat.
Pancreatic cancer, especially if it is located on the head of the pancreas near the gallbladder, can suppress the bile duct and inhibit the flow of bilirubin into the intestine.
As a result, bilirubin accumulates and causes the skin or eyes to turn yellow. Jaundice is the most important symptom of pancreatic cancer.
2. stomach ache
About 70 to 80% of people with pancreatic cancer experience abdominal pain around the stomach or solar plexus. Pain can be felt in the back or waist and usually improves by leaning forward. This pain is caused by cancer that grows and puts pressure on the surrounding organs and nerves.
3. Pale and oily dirt
The flow of bilirubin that is blocked in the intestine causes the stool not to get enough coloring, so that it becomes pale. The absence of bile sap to digest fat in the intestine also makes the stool more oily.
4. dark urine
Increased bilirubin in the blood can enter urine and make it darker.
5. itching on the skin
Increased levels of bilirubin will give a yellowish color to the skin and, if the levels are very high, the skin will be irritated.
6. Nausea, vomiting, weight loss and weakness
These symptoms are interconnected. Pancreatic cancer can compress the stomach or duodenum, block the flow of food and cause nausea or vomiting.
In addition, pancreatic cancer can interfere with the production of digestive enzymes, interfere with food digestion and reduce appetite. Over time, this condition will cause weight loss and weaken the body.
Symptoms of Endocrine Pancreatic Cancer
Enlargement of cancer that occurs in hormone-producing tissue (endocrine glands) in the pancreas can suppress the surrounding organs. This type of pancreatic cancer has the same symptoms as exocrine pancreatic cancer.
But in addition, endocrine cells can release hormones in the blood, causing symptoms that vary depending on the type of cancer, namely:
Gastrinoma
Cancer in cells that produce this hormone, gastrin, will stimulate the stomach to produce more stomach acid. As a result, sufferers may experience abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, peptic ulcers and gastric bleeding, so the stool is black.
glucagonoma
This type of cancer produces excessive glucagon, which increases blood sugar. As a result, symptoms of diabetes, such as thirst, hunger constantly and often have the urge to urinate. In addition, a skin rash can also appear.
insulinoma
This cancer produces the hormone insulin. As a result, the patient's blood sugar levels can drop dramatically and cause vertigo, cold sweats, rapid heartbeat or even fainting.
Having one or more of the above symptoms does not mean that a person must suffer from pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer symptoms are not specific, which means they can also appear in other diseases, such as stomach ulcers or inflammation of the pancreas.
Therefore, if you have symptoms that can cause pancreatic cancer, you should immediately consult a doctor. Through consultation, physical examination and examinations such as CT scan, MRI, ultrasound scan, endoscopy, blood tests and biopsy, doctors can diagnose and determine whether these symptoms are symptoms of pancreatic cancer or not.
The pancreas is an organ located behind the stomach. This organ functions to produce the hormone insulin which regulates blood glucose (endocrine function) and produces digestive enzymes to break down food in the intestine (exocrine function). Pancreatic cancer occurs when pancreatic cells grow out of control because of changes in genetic characteristics.
Recognizing and knowing the symptoms of pancreatic cancer can help detect this disease early, so that treatment can be given as soon as possible.
Symptoms of Exocrine Pancreatic Cancer
Here are some of the symptoms of pancreatic cancer that attacks the exocrine part of the pancreas:
1. jaundice
Jaundice or jaundice is a yellowish condition on the skin or eyes due to increased bilirubin. Bilirubin is a brownish yellow substance produced by the liver that has flowed into the intestine as bile sap. Its function is to digest fat.
Pancreatic cancer, especially if it is located on the head of the pancreas near the gallbladder, can suppress the bile duct and inhibit the flow of bilirubin into the intestine.
As a result, bilirubin accumulates and causes the skin or eyes to turn yellow. Jaundice is the most important symptom of pancreatic cancer.
2. stomach ache
About 70 to 80% of people with pancreatic cancer experience abdominal pain around the stomach or solar plexus. Pain can be felt in the back or waist and usually improves by leaning forward. This pain is caused by cancer that grows and puts pressure on the surrounding organs and nerves.
3. Pale and oily dirt
The flow of bilirubin that is blocked in the intestine causes the stool not to get enough coloring, so that it becomes pale. The absence of bile sap to digest fat in the intestine also makes the stool more oily.
4. dark urine
Increased bilirubin in the blood can enter urine and make it darker.
5. itching on the skin
Increased levels of bilirubin will give a yellowish color to the skin and, if the levels are very high, the skin will be irritated.
6. Nausea, vomiting, weight loss and weakness
These symptoms are interconnected. Pancreatic cancer can compress the stomach or duodenum, block the flow of food and cause nausea or vomiting.
In addition, pancreatic cancer can interfere with the production of digestive enzymes, interfere with food digestion and reduce appetite. Over time, this condition will cause weight loss and weaken the body.
Symptoms of Endocrine Pancreatic Cancer
Enlargement of cancer that occurs in hormone-producing tissue (endocrine glands) in the pancreas can suppress the surrounding organs. This type of pancreatic cancer has the same symptoms as exocrine pancreatic cancer.
But in addition, endocrine cells can release hormones in the blood, causing symptoms that vary depending on the type of cancer, namely:
Gastrinoma
Cancer in cells that produce this hormone, gastrin, will stimulate the stomach to produce more stomach acid. As a result, sufferers may experience abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, peptic ulcers and gastric bleeding, so the stool is black.
glucagonoma
This type of cancer produces excessive glucagon, which increases blood sugar. As a result, symptoms of diabetes, such as thirst, hunger constantly and often have the urge to urinate. In addition, a skin rash can also appear.
insulinoma
This cancer produces the hormone insulin. As a result, the patient's blood sugar levels can drop dramatically and cause vertigo, cold sweats, rapid heartbeat or even fainting.
Having one or more of the above symptoms does not mean that a person must suffer from pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer symptoms are not specific, which means they can also appear in other diseases, such as stomach ulcers or inflammation of the pancreas.
Therefore, if you have symptoms that can cause pancreatic cancer, you should immediately consult a doctor. Through consultation, physical examination and examinations such as CT scan, MRI, ultrasound scan, endoscopy, blood tests and biopsy, doctors can diagnose and determine whether these symptoms are symptoms of pancreatic cancer or not.
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