What to do if jaundice occurs in pancreatic cancer

Symptoms of pancreatic cancer include jaundice, which is the most important symptom of pancreatic cancer. People must pay attention to it. Do you know what the symptoms of pancreatic cancer are? This question is often asked by people. Let the experts introduce the symptoms of pancreatic cancer to us.

Jaundice is one of the major complications of pancreatic cancer.

1. Accompanied by fatigue and progressive weight loss. Although jaundice can be the first manifestation of pancreatic cancer, it is often not an early manifestation. This is a symptom of pancreatic cancer.

2. The upper abdominal discomfort is deep and wide. Patients often find it difficult to point accurately with their fingers, but often mark a larger area on the abdomen, or place their palms on the abdomen to indicate the discomfort range. This is a symptom of pancreatic cancer.

3. The relationship between discomfort and diet varies. Some people initially feel discomfort after meals, which may then gradually become persistent and worsen after eating. Some discomfort may also be unrelated to diet. This is a symptom of pancreatic cancer.

4. The nature of the discomfort is often vague and the patient cannot describe it clearly. This is a symptom of pancreatic cancer.

5. Generally, there is little or no acid reflux, and the effect of antacids is not significant or lasting. This is a symptom of pancreatic cancer.

6. It does not have the periodicity of peptic ulcer disease, nor is it seasonal, but it does have a progressive worsening phenomenon, gradually turning into dull pain, bloating, and back pain. These are symptoms of pancreatic cancer.

Symptoms of jaundice associated with pancreatic cancer:

1. Jaundice is an important symptom of patients with advanced pancreatic cancer, and obstructive jaundice is the most prominent manifestation of pancreatic head cancer, with an incidence of more than 90%. In the early stage, the pancreatic body and tail may not have jaundice. Jaundice is usually persistent and progressive. In case of complete obstruction, the stool may be clay-colored, the skin may be brown or bronze-colored, and it may be accompanied by itching.

2. Fever: At least 10% of patients have fever during the course of the disease. The late stage of pancreatic cancer may be clinically manifested as low fever, high fever, intermittent fever or irregular fever. The cause may be related to the pyrogen released by the cancer cells themselves or secondary biliary infection.

3. Abdominal pain. Discomfort and dull pain in the upper abdomen are the most common first symptoms of advanced pancreatic cancer. The location of the abdominal pain is unclear and the range is wide. The typical location is the middle upper abdomen and left hypochondrium, and it can radiate to the back, chest, and right scapula. The abdominal pain can manifest as dull pain, heavy tenderness, gnawing pain, etc., which is mostly persistent and can be aggravated after meals.

4. Weight loss is a common symptom of advanced pancreatic cancer. 90% of patients experience weight loss, which is characterized by rapid progression. It is considered to be related to lack of pancreatic juice and bile, poor digestion and absorption function, poor appetite, sleep, heavy mental burden, and direct effects of cancer cells.

Ways to get rid of jaundice:

1. After the obstruction site is identified through endoscopic retrograde pancreaticocholangiopancreatography, stent placement is performed. The success rate is high in experienced units, but the disadvantage is the possibility of cholangitis and the stent may be blocked again.

2. If the above method is unsuccessful, percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage can be performed. If the drainage is unobstructed, a stent can be placed through the drainage tract. This method is slightly more traumatic than the above method, and the success rate of placement is generally lower, so it is rarely used. However, even if the stent cannot be placed, external drainage can still be continued to eliminate jaundice.

3. Laparoscopic cholecystojejunostomy has the advantage that if the patient also has gastrointestinal obstruction, gastrointestinal anastomosis can also be performed at the same time.