Among all cancers, pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest, because it often goes undetected, until it is advanced and difficult to treat. In the majority of cases, symptoms develop only after the cancer has grown and has begun spreading outside the pancreas.
If you experience any of the following signs, it may be indicative of pancreatic cancer. If your cancer is diagnosed early, then the chances of recovery are much higher.
Jaundice
Jaundice is the yellowing of your eyes and skin. Many people, who get pancreatic cancer, generally have jaundice as one of their first symptoms.
Abdominal Pain and Bloating
Pancreatic cancer can cause a dull ache in your upper abdomen radiating to the back. This pain may come and go. Some people with pancreatic cancer also experience an uncomfortable swelling in their abdomen and might have a sense of early fullness during meals.
Loss of appetite and weight loss
If you experience unintentional weight loss as well as a loss of appetite, it can also be a warning sign of pancreatic cancer.
Nausea and Vomiting
If your cancer presses on the far end of your stomach and blocks it partially, this can make it harder for your food to pass. This can lead to nausea, vomiting, and pain after meals.
Dark Urine
Your liver releases a yellowish-fluid to help your body with the digestion of food. This fluid is known as bile. When the bile duct is blocked by a tumor, bilirubin is unable to leave your body, and too much of it builds up in your body.
When you have an excess of bilirubin in your body, it can get into your urine and can stain it brown.
Swelling, Redness, or pain in the leg
These can be signs of a blood clot in a deep vein of the leg. This is known as deep vein thrombosis. A clot is sometimes the first sign of pancreatic cancer.
Diarrhea
Pancreatic cancer can prevent you from absorbing nutrition properly, from the foods you eat, which can trigger diarrhea.
If you see any of these symptoms, it might be a good reason to see your doctor. However, at the same time, you should remember that these symptoms may also be caused by a different condition, and they don’t always necessarily indicate pancreatic cancer.