What are the complications of pancreatic cancer

What are the complications of pancreatic cancer? Pancreatic cancer is one of the malignant tumor diseases. In recent years, the number of pancreatic cancer patients has increased significantly, and it ranks first in the tumor rankings in my country. Therefore, it is very important to understand the complications of pancreatic cancer in the late stage. So, let's take a look at what are the complications of pancreatic cancer in the late stage?

What are the complications of pancreatic cancer?

1. Weight loss: Pancreatic cancer causes the most prominent weight loss. Obvious weight loss occurs within a short period of time after the onset of the disease. The weight loss can reach more than 30 kilograms, accompanied by weakness and fatigue.

2. Symptomatic diabetes: In a small number of patients, the initial manifestations are symptoms of diabetes. Therefore, if a diabetic patient has persistent abdominal pain, or an elderly person suddenly develops diabetes, or a pre-existing diabetic patient suddenly gets worse, they should be alert to the possibility of pancreatic cancer.

3. Thrombophlebitis Patients with advanced pancreatic cancer may experience migratory thrombophlebitis or arterial thrombosis, which is also the most common complication of advanced pancreatic cancer.

4. Psychiatric symptoms: Some pancreatic cancer patients may show psychiatric symptoms such as anxiety, irritability, depression, and personality changes.

5. 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 progressively deepens. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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 often persistent and can be aggravated after meals.

8. Digestive tract symptoms: fatigue and loss of appetite are very common, and may also be accompanied by gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea, constipation, abdominal distension, nausea, etc. Some cases may experience steatorrhea, high blood sugar, and diabetes. Dislike of fatty dishes may also cause fatty diarrhea, which is a diarrhea symptom caused by undigested fat mixed with feces and excreted.

9. Neurological symptoms: Some patients may experience anxiety, depression, insomnia, personality changes, etc.

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