Pancreatic cancer has one of the highest mortality rates of all cancers. Knowing the symptoms, including these 10 hard-to-detect signs, could save your life! 1/12 Focus on the pancreas.
The pancreas is one of those organs you probably don’t think about much… 15 cm long and hidden behind the stomach, its main role is to help you digest food and control your blood sugar levels. Normally, it works seamlessly behind the scenes. But when things go wrong, it can affect the entire body. According to the French National Cancer Institute (INCa), there are approximately 14,000 new cases of pancreatic cancer each year in France. Its mortality rate is particularly high, with nearly 12,000 deaths per year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
2/12 Pancreatic Cancer
On average, five years after diagnosis, only 10% of patients are still alive, making pancreatic cancer one of the cancers with the lowest survival rates. Why? Primarily because it is very difficult to detect at an early stage. However, it is only treatable if diagnosed early enough. Pancreatic cancer is the most common type of cancer in people over 60 (although it has also been diagnosed in people in their twenties and thirties). “It is therefore important to know the symptoms of this disease and not wait until they become serious before seeking medical help,” warns Anton Bilchik, an oncological surgeon in the United States, speaking to Women’s Health. Here are 10 hard-to-detect signs that could save your life.
3/12 Your eyes and skin are yellow.
Yellowing of the whites of the eyes and skin is never a good sign. It can be a sign of various health problems such as alcoholism, liver failure, and pancreatic cancer. Indeed, “many pancreatic tumors begin in the head of the pancreas, which is located near the bile ducts,” explains Anton Bilchik. Even small tumors can put pressure on and block the bile duct, which is supposed to carry bile from the liver and gallbladder to the small intestine via the pancreas. One of bile’s functions is to remove bilirubin, a normal waste product of red blood cells. When it can’t do its job, the excess bilirubin causes jaundice and yellow eyes.
4/12 You look four months pregnant.
While it’s normal to have a bloated stomach after a large meal, it’s not normal if it lasts for several days. “As pancreatic tumors grow, they can cause abdominal distension,” says the doctor. “It’s one of the first signs people notice, but they don’t call their doctor because they think it’s just bloating.” But it’s worth getting checked out, he says. It’s probably not cancer, but it could be (ovarian cancer also lists bloating among its early symptoms). You know what they say: prevention is better than cure! 5/12 Even your favorite dessert makes you want to throw up.
Loss of appetite is another early indicator of pancreatic cancer. “When tumors develop in the abdomen, they can put pressure on surrounding organs, including the stomach,” explains Anton Bilchik. As a result, you feel full even if you haven’t eaten for hours and you often experience nausea. Eating can even be painful.
6/12 You’re losing weight unintentionally.
This loss of appetite can easily lead to rapid weight loss. For example, it represents, on average, a loss of more than 5% of body weight within six months to a year. “If you can’t explain your recent and rapid weight loss by another reason, you should consult a doctor,” advises the surgeon.
7/12 You have terrible lower back pain.
When a pancreatic tumor develops, it puts pressure not only on internal organs but also on the lower spine and back muscles, causing constant, dull pain. Because of menstrual cramps, women are used to experiencing lower back pain regularly. So, how can you tell if it’s due to premenstrual syndrome, too many hours at the gym, or something serious like pancreatic cancer? “If the pain is constant (that is, it doesn’t go away at the end of your period), you should get it checked out,” the expert recommends.
8/12 Your urine looks more like tea.
Dark urine is a sign of dehydration, but it’s also often the first sign of jaundice that people notice. “Because the tumor causes a decrease in bile excretion and an increase in bilirubin levels in the blood, the urine turns brown,” according to the American Cancer Society. “If increasing your water intake doesn’t bring your urine back to its usual light yellow color, it’s time to get checked out. Jaundice is an early sign of pancreatic cancer,” says Anton Bilchik.
9/12 You Can’t Stop Scratching:
Generalized itching is perhaps one of the least known early symptoms of jaundice and pancreatic cancer. “The buildup of bilirubin in the skin can cause itching even before it turns yellow. I’ve seen patients come in and say, ‘It itches terribly here,’ and when they lifted their shirt, they saw that it was turning yellow,” says the doctor. If you can’t attribute your itching to other possible causes, such as insect bites or an allergic reaction, and no lotion provides relief, see a doctor.
10/12 Your stools are strange.
Grayish, pale, or greasy stools are a sign of poor health, including pancreatic cancer. Again, this is due to bilirubin. It is normally excreted by the intestines in stool and gives fecal matter its characteristic dark brown color. But when there isn’t enough bile because a tumor is blocking it, “bilirubin remains in the body instead of being eliminated in the stool. This can change the color and texture of your stool,” explains the ACS. A pancreatic tumor is a likely cause, but there are others: liver disease or a gastrointestinal infection. In any case, they aren’t good either, so don’t hesitate to call your doctor if your stool is consistently pale or floats in the toilet.
11/12 You have stomach pain for no apparent reason.
Making a doctor’s appointment to complain of simple stomach pains may seem irrational, but this type of unspecified pain can be an early symptom of pancreatic cancer, according to Anton Bilchik. Because the pancreas is located in the lower back of the abdomen, behind the stomach, a tumor in this area can cause subtle and persistent stomach pain, regardless of what you’ve eaten.
12/12 You just don’t feel well.
While some signs of pancreatic cancer are obvious and specific, others are much less so. But to detect the disease early, you need to pay attention to even the most vague symptoms, including a general feeling of being unwell and malaise that lasts more than a week or two and isn’t related to another obvious cause, such as the flu. Remember, it’s always better to get checked and find out you have nothing wrong than to miss something crucial.
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Interior Tiles . Cookie Management. Trends. Marie France. Marie France. Closer. Sports.fr. Join our community by subscribing to our Newsletter! To stay up-to-date with the latest Practical Life news and the latest youth trends. 4/12 You look 4 months pregnant.
While it’s normal to have a bloated stomach after a large meal, it’s not the case if it lasts for several days. “As pancreatic tumors grow, they can cause abdominal distension,” says the doctor. “It’s one of the first signs people notice, but they don’t call their doctor because they think it’s just bloating.” But it’s worth getting checked out, he believes. It’s probably not cancer, but it could be (ovarian cancer also lists bloating among its early symptoms). You know what they say: prevention is better than cure!
5/12 Even your favorite dessert makes you want to throw up.
Loss of appetite is another early indicator of pancreatic cancer. “When tumors grow in the abdomen, they can put pressure on surrounding organs, including the stomach,” says Anton Bilchik. The result: you feel full even if you haven’t eaten for hours, and you often feel nauseous. Eating can even be painful.
6/12 You’re losing weight unintentionally.
This loss of appetite can easily lead to rapid weight loss. For example, it represents, on average, a loss of more than 5% of body weight within six months to a year. “If you can’t explain your recent and rapid weight loss by another reason, you should consult a doctor,” advises the surgeon.
7/12 You have excruciating lower back pain.
When a pancreatic tumor develops, it puts pressure not only on internal organs but also on the lower spine and back muscles, causing constant, dull pain. Because of menstrual cramps, women are used to experiencing lower back pain regularly. So how can you tell if these symptoms are due to premenstrual syndrome, too many hours spent at the gym, or something serious like pancreatic cancer? “If the pain is constant (that is, it doesn’t go away at the end of your period), you should get it checked out,” the expert recommends.
8/12 Your urine looks more like tea.
Dark urine is a sign of dehydration, but it’s also often the first sign of jaundice that people notice. “Because the tumor causes a decrease in bile excretion and an increase in bilirubin levels in the blood, the urine takes on a brown color,” according to the American Cancer Society.”If increasing your water intake does not bring your urine back to its usual light yellow color, it’s time to get checked out. Jaundice is an early sign of pancreatic cancer,” says Anton Bilchik.
