Are There Specific Pancreatic Cancer Symptoms?
Pancreatic cancer is a type of cancer that affects the pancreas. The pancreas is a gland that is located behind the stomach, liver, spleen and other organs. It is about 6 inches in length and its shape resembles that of a pear lying sideways. It consists of three parts the head which is the large part, the body and the tail which is the smallest part. Because it is behind other organs it cannot be felt during a routine physical exam as other glands and organs can be.
Because pancreatic cancer is considered to be one of the rare types of cancer screening for this cancer is not used on everyone. It is suggested however that if you are at an increased risk for pancreatic cancer that you undergo this screening. These risk factors include a history of pancreatic cancer and certain genetic disorders.
Pancreatic cancer symptoms are often not present during the early stages of this disease which makes detection and treatment somewhat difficult. In the event that symptoms do appear early on they may sometimes include nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, weight loss, jaundice of the skin and eyes, early and unexpected development of diabetes and changes in the color of stool or urine. Itchy skin, stomach pain and diarrhea may also be symptoms of pancreatic cancer.
These symptoms are different from one person to another and depending on the location within the pancreas of the cancer. Blockage of the head generally causes jaundice or a yellowing of the skin. On the other hand if the tumor is located in the body or tail it will most likely not cause jaundice but may be likely to produce other pancreatic cancer symptoms such as diarrhea, stomach pain and weight loss.
Because many of these symptoms can also be attributed to other illnesses and diseases the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer may be delayed thus making treatment more difficult. Because pancreatic cancer is a fast spreading cancer it can get to the advanced stages and spread to other organs quite quickly. This also makes treatment more difficult.
In most cases pancreatic cancer symptoms do not appear right away which is another reason why it often is not diagnosed early on. It is very difficult to catch pancreatic cancer in the early stages of the disease.
There are several different treatments available for individuals afflicted with pancreatic cancer and which one is used will vary from one person to the next based on things like age, general health, stage of the disease and personal preference.
If you encounter any of the symptoms associated with pancreatic cancer it is important that you seek the advice of your health care professional. Even if these symptoms are not indicative of pancreatic cancer they are still issues that need to be addressed and treated.
In the event that your symptoms are related to pancreatic cancer the earlier you know about it the better off you will be in relation to treatment. The earlier the diagnosis is made the more likely it will be that treatment will be effective.
