Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indigestion and abdominal pain are often seen as symptoms of a mild illness. While it could be, it could be a sign of something worse, like pancreatic cancer.
Pancreatic cancer is the fifth deadliest disease in the UK. According to Pancreatic Cancer UK (PCUK), half of people with the disease die within three months of being diagnosed due to delays in testing.
The symptoms of pancreatic cancer often overlap with those of other conditions such as indigestion and irritable bowel syndrome.
Below are some of the symptoms that need to be watched if they occur continuously, as broadcast by the Independent on Monday.
Indigestion
Indigestion or heartburn can be a common symptom of pancreatic cancer, but most people wouldn’t think it’s related to a serious illness. Usually this symptom is also accompanied by stomach pain or back pain and with some annoying things.
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Stomach pain or back pain
This pain can radiate from the stomach to the back. This pain often occurs between the shoulder blades, can get worse after eating something, and doesn’t go away easily.
Weight loss drastically
The weight loss will be very visible, especially if the patient does not follow a diet plan.
Loss of appetite
Weight loss is of course sometimes linked to loss of appetite, which is an often overlooked symptom of pancreatic cancer.
Patients never feel hungry or immediately full even if they eat little. It is possible that this is because the tumor is pressing on the stomach.
Jaundice
Jaundice is a symptom of pancreatic cancer that isn’t easy to ignore, but it tends to only occur in people whose cancer is towards the head of the pancreas.
PCUK Nurse Specialist Jeni Jones said not all pancreatic cancer patients will get jaundice, although it is very common.
“This is a red flag. You may notice it when the whites of your eyes turn slightly yellow, before your skin starts getting that yellow tinge,” says Jones.
Itching
The skin can become very itchy before jaundice develops, because bile salts build up under the skin first.
Changes in bowel movements
Jones said there are many causes of diarrhea, but the signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer are diverse. When you defecate there is fat in the stool which gives it a yellowish colour, which also occurs in jaundice.
This greasy, yellowish poop that doesn’t go away is a sure sign that something is wrong in the upper part of the digestive system.
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Recently diagnosed diabetesSt
Jones cautions that a small number of people newly diagnosed with diabetes may develop pancreatic cancer, because cancer can prevent the pancreas from making enough insulin, which can lead to diabetes.
“If you have some pancreatic cancer symptoms and are suddenly diagnosed with diabetes, then that should be a red flag symptom for your doctor to think about whether you need a scan to check your pancreas,” she says.
Clot
Blood clots are a rare symptom of pancreatic cancer, especially when they occur in younger, non-smoking people.
Fatigue
Fatigue can be caused by many things, but if it’s persistent and accompanied by other symptoms, you should get a scan right away.
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