The pancreas is the organ responsible for producing insulin and generating enzymes that promote the digestion of food. When the cells found in this organ become cancerous, we talk about pancreatic cancer. This is a common disease in people with diabetes and chronic pancreatitis being more recurrent in men than in women. This disease is usually silent, and stronger symptoms occur in more advanced tumor stages, so it is important to look for small signs, especially if you are in the risk group. At OneHowTo.com we explain what the very early symptoms of pancreatic cancer are.
Pancreatic cancer is more prevalent in:
- Smokers
- People who have a diet high in fat and meats and low consumption of vegetables and fruits
- People with diabetes because insulin production is compromised
- Those with chronic inflammation of the pancreas or pancreatitis
- Those with cases of pancreatic cancer in your family
- Those who have been exposed to prolonged chemicals such as pesticides or chemicals related to gasoline
Strong symptoms of pancreatic cancer appear when the tumor has grown in size sufficiently to affect the functioning of other organs such as the liver or stomach. But there are small signs that can alert us and be taken into account, because the more progressed the tumor, the more difficulties arise in treatment.
Abdominal pain or pain in the side of the back is one of the early symptoms of pancreatic cancer. It is usually accompanied by a loss of appetite and subsequent weight loss.
Clearly these signs can be attributed to any other illness, but if you are in the high risk group, it is important to see a doctor for a detailed review.
When pancreatic cancer causes biliary obstruction, it is common that the patient's skin acquires a yellowish tone which is another sign of pancreatic cancer. This symptom is known as jaundice, and will be one of the first symptoms. This usually is accompanied by widespread irritation similar to that caused by an allergic reaction.
Patients with pancreatic cancer may also suffer from frequent indigestion, inflammation of the pancreas and depression.
Treatment and recovery expectations of pancreatic cancer will depend largely on the stage of the disease, therefore the sooner it is detected the better.
If you have presented several of these symptoms and you are in the high risk group for pancreatic cancer, it is best to visit a specialist for a thorough review.
This article is merely informative, oneHOWTO does not have the authority to prescribe any medical treatments or create a diagnosis. We invite you to visit your doctor if you have any type of condition or pain.
If you want to read similar articles to The Very Early Symptoms of Pancreatic Cancer, we recommend you visit our Diseases & secondary effects category.