Pancreatic Cancer Symptoms – cancer is among the worst diseases in the world. There are different types of cancers, and they all are deadly. The United States records millions of cases of different cancer, and more than 500,000 people die due to cancer each year.
Pancreatic cancer is a prime example of deadly cancer. The United States usually records more than 200,000 cases of pancreatic cancer each year, and it is the 10th most commonly diagnosed cancer in the country.
Still, pancreatic cancer is the 3rd leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the country. Pancreatic cancer is more common in men as compared to women, as per the American Cancer Society.
Health experts have named different types of cancers depending on the place of their origin. Similarly, pancreatic cancer starts in the pancreas, and it also starts as a regular cell that grows more than it should.
Everyone should screen themselves for different types of cancers after every 5 to 10 years, but it is not possible for every person on this earth. Keeping that in mind, healthcare experts suggest everyone learn about the different symptoms of cancers, including pancreatic cancer.
That is why today we are here to help you understand pancreatic cancer symptoms. We will also take a look at its major causes, diagnosis, and treatment. All these things will help you make better decisions in the future if you get cancer.
Common Pancreatic Cancer Symptoms
The combination of symptoms tells a lot about the diagnosis of different diseases, including pancreatic cancer. It is also our main topic of the day, so let’s start with the basics.
There is a high probability that you might not experience any signs or symptoms of pancreatic cancer until it has already reached the advanced stage. It is also among the deepest and biggest problems with cancer. That is why healthcare experts suggest regular screening for the early diagnosis of different types of cancers.
You should always remember that having one or 2 symptoms of pancreatic cancer doesn’t mean that you are struggling with cancer. Many symptoms of pancreatic cancer are also caused by other conditions.
You should always seek medical assistance whenever you believe you are struggling with pancreatic cancer.
- Jaundice like symptoms
- Pain in the upper abdominal area
- Extreme tiredness
- Unexplained weight loss
- loss of appetite
- Light colored poop
- Blood clots in the body
- Nausea and vomiting
- New diabetes
These are the most common symptoms or signs of pancreatic cancer. There is no fixed order of these symptoms, and They can appear in any order.
People who have recently been diagnosed with diabetes are suggested to go for the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. It can be one of the biggest signs of pancreatic cancer, as other symptoms are also associated with several other medical conditions.
For example, symptoms like extreme tiredness, loss of appetite, unexplained weight loss, vomiting, and nausea are also caused by several other types of cancers.
What are The Causes of Pancreatic Cancer?
Similar to any other cancer in the world, healthcare experts do not understand the right causes of pancreatic cancer. Healthcare experts around the world believe that when cells in the pancreas start to grow out of normal growth, it becomes Tumor.
Without any treatment, the tumor can later spread to nearby organs and blood vessels and become cancer. Pancreatitis is deep down in our body, And it can become a little bit hard for healthcare experts to feel the tumor during the annual exam.
Risk Factors
Despite inconclusive data on the major causes of pancreatic cancer, healthcare experts will leave some risk factors that can increase your risk of Pancreatic cancer.
- Smoking
- Obesity
- Family history of cancers
- People above the age of 65
- Chronic inflammation of pancreatitis
- Diabetes
People who fall in any of the above-given categories should consult the screening of pancreatic cancer with their healthcare provider, as per the American Cancer Society.
Even though pancreatic cancer can develop in anyone in this world, people who fall into these categories are the most vulnerable.
Diagnosis of Pancreatic Cancer
As we have already established, the American Cancer Society does not suggest anyone self-diagnose themselves for pancreatic or any other cancer despite knowing all the symptoms.
Even if you have recently been diagnosed with diabetes and you are struggling with common symptoms of cancer, such as weight loss, loss of appetite, and vomiting, it doesn’t mean that you are struggling with pancreatic cancer.
You should always seek medical assistance whenever you are in doubt about pancreatic or any other type of cancer. There are different tests available that can help your healthcare provider diagnose you for the disease.
Imaging Tests
Imaging tests, including CT scans, MRIs, and Pet Scans, are the most popular tests available in the world to diagnose pancreatic cancer. These tests are capable of helping your healthcare provider visualize your internal organs, and your healthcare expert will be able to locate any tumor in your pancreas using these tests.
Biopsy
A biopsy is another common type of diagnosis for pancreatic cancer. During the test, a healthcare professional will take a small sample of the tissue to examine under a microscope. A medical professional will pass different tools through the endoscope to take a sample. Apart from that, healthcare experts might also go for fine needle aspiration techniques for pancreatic biopsy.
Blood Test
A blood test is also a popular test when it comes to the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. Your healthcare professional will try to find a specific type of protein that is associated with pancreatic cancer. Blood tests are also known to provide false results as some people might not have elevated levels of specific types of protein.
What are The Treatment Options for Pancreatic Cancer?
Treatment for pancreatic cancer is a very tricky situation. As you might already be aware, most people get diagnosed with pancreatic cancer when the cancer has already reached the advanced stages.
Not just pancreatic cancer, but every cancer in the world is a little bit hard to treat when it has already reached the advanced stages. There are 5 stages of cancer, starting from zero to 4. Stage zero is going to be the basic stage wise stage 4 move is the most advanced stage.
There is also a probability that cancers in the advanced stage might not even respond to the treatment, as per the American Cancer Society.
Your healthcare provider will first try to remove cancer from your body. If it is not possible, then your healthcare provider might also try to improve your quality of life so that you can live with cancer without any complications.
Surgery
Surgery is probably one of the most popular treatments for any type of cancer, including pancreatic cancer. Your surgeon may remove some parts of your pancreas, including the stomach and colon, during the procedure.
There are different surgeries available for pancreatic cancer. Your healthcare provider will suggest surgery depending on the place of cancer and your overall condition. If needed, your healthcare expert might remove your entire pancreas. In that situation, you will require lifelong Insulin and enzyme replacement.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is another popular treatment for different types of cancers, in cloning pancreatic cancer. During the procedure, your healthcare provider is going to use different types of drugs that are going to kill Cancer cells.
Healthcare providers usually opt for chemotherapy where cancer has not spread to other organs. At the same time, your healthcare expert might also use a similar treatment to shrink the Tumor place and later go for the surgery.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy is used in combination with chemotherapy. During the procedure, a healthcare professional will use high-energy beams such as X-rays to destroy cancer cells.
Your healthcare provider might also suggest you go for radiation therapy before or after the surgery. Usually, it is combined with chemotherapy.
How to Prevent Pancreatic Cancer?
Before we wrap up our session, let’s take a quick look at some preventive measures for pancreatic cancer. Even though everyone in this world is vulnerable to developing pancreatic cancer, people who smoke regularly are among the most common to develop this type of cancer.
You should also try to maintain a healthy weight as obesity can also cause different types of cancers, including pancreatic cancer. Lastly, you can also focus on healthy diets, including colorful fruits and vegetables.
What are the early pancreatic cancer symptoms?
There are no early pancreatic cancer symptoms. Healthcare experts do not recommend regular screening for pancreatic cancer, and People get diagnosed with pancreatic cancer once it has already reached the advanced stages.