Common symptoms and signs of pancreatic cancer

The early symptoms of pancreatic cancer are mainly upper abdominal discomfort or dull pain, bloating, and distension, accounting for about 70%-90%. Since food after meals stimulates the secretion of bile and pancreatic juice, and there is obstruction at the exit, the pressure in the bile duct and pancreatic duct increases, which can aggravate the pain or discomfort. Another obvious symptom is loss of appetite or changes in eating habits, especially dislike for greasy and high-animal protein foods. More than 70% of patients have a significant weight loss without any other cause. In severe cases, the weight can drop by more than 30kg within 2-3 months. A small number of patients may also have diarrhea or

The pain in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer is particularly severe, often involving the waist and back (about 1/4 of patients), which persists without relief, making it impossible to lie flat, and often requires a forward prone position, all night long, which is very painful. This is the result of the cancer invading the abdominal nerves. When the tumor involves the body of the pancreas, this clinical manifestation is quite common. Digestive dysfunction, ascites, and lumps often occur in the late stage. Pancreatic cancer not only affects the exocrine function of the pancreas, but also its endocrine function. About 30% of patients have varying degrees of glucose metabolism disorders, and the condition of patients with diabetes in the past may worsen.

There are no warning signs for pancreatic cancer. The most common symptom is upper abdominal pain, which indicates that the abdominal lymph nodes are involved (accounting for more than 90%). There may also be loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, constipation (accounting for 50%), weight loss (usually all feelings in the early stage, accounting for 50%), diarrhea, abdominal distension, belching and hiccups. Other symptoms include itchy skin, lower limb edema, sleep disorders and fatigue. The above manifestations vary depending on the location of the tumor. If the tumor is located in the tail of the pancreas, there is generally no jaundice, and other manifestations are basically similar.