Pancreatic cancer symptoms

Pancreatic cancer happens when there is loss of control in the growth of cells in the pancreas due to changes in the organisation of the pancreatic duct cell.

Symptoms of pancreatic cancer can include:

1. Jaundice is the medical term for yellowing of the skin, called  — Both the skin and the white part of the eyes can turn yellow. Jaundice produced by pancreatic cancer is of the type we know as obstructive jaundice which can change your bowel movements to look pale white instead of normal.
2. Pain — People can have pain that spreads from their stomach around to their back. The pain can come and go, and it can get worse after eating.
3. Weight loss — People might not feel hungry, or might feel full after eating very little.
4. New Diabetes after the age of 60 years

These symptoms can also be caused by conditions that are not pancreatic cancer. But if you have these symptoms, please consult your gastroenterologist so that you can be properly evaluated.

If your doctor suspects you have pancreatic cancer, he or she will order one or more tests. These can include:

Most of the tests are scans, which can see the parts of the pancreas and show the abnormal parts

Ultrasound and CT scan are the two tests commonly performed for the detection.

A radiologist or medical gastroenterologist will take a small sample of tissue from the pancreas. Then a pathologist will look at the sample under a microscope to check for cancer. This is done if the cancer is beyond any operative cure.

Cancer staging is a way in which doctors find out how far a cancer has spread.

The right treatment for you will depend a lot on the stage of your cancer. Your treatment will also depend on your age and other medical problems.