Cancer claims millions of lives across the U.S. every year. This disease can affect any part of your body, including your pancreas.
Pancreatic cancer may be one of the rarer forms of the disease, but it has an exceptionally high morbidity rate. Here’s what you need to know about pancreatic cancer, including its symptoms and risk factors.
What Is Pancreatic Cancer?
Pancreatic cancer is a form of cancer that attacks the tissue of your pancreas, the organ responsible for helping your digestion and managing your blood sugar levels.
Pancreatic cancer is dangerous because it often goes unnoticed until it reaches a developed stage. Screening for this disease is difficult due to the size and location of the organ. In addition, symptoms may not show themselves until they become severe.
Signs of Pancreatic Cancer
The following symptoms might indicate a tumorous growth on your pancreas:
- Pain – Pancreatic cancer can press on your abdominal nerves, resulting in severe pain. The pain typically starts from the stomach and radiates toward your back.
- Jaundice or scleral icterus – Yellowed skin or eyes are often a sound indicator of pancreatic cancer.
- Weight loss – Unexplained weight loss should always be investigated. Pancreatic cancer can affect your feeling of hunger, causing you to eat less.
- Nausea – A tumor may cause a blockage that results in nausea and vomiting.
- Diarrhea – Pancreatic cancer can also cause changes to your bowel movements.
- Dark urine color – Dark urine can indicate jaundice, a sign of pancreatic cancer.
Pancreatic cancer is hard to identify, but there is a chance of recovery if the condition is caught reasonably early. Don’t ignore the signs mentioned above.
