What are the symptoms of early pancreatic cancer

Early pancreatic cancer can be identified by symptoms such as abdominal discomfort, jaundice, and weight loss. Timely medical attention and imaging tests, blood tests, and tissue biopsies are the key to diagnosis and treatment. The early symptoms of pancreatic cancer are often atypical, and imaging tests such as CT, MRI, and blood markers such as CA19-9 are required for diagnosis. Treatment methods include surgical resection, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy.

1. Abdominal discomfort is a common symptom of early pancreatic cancer, manifested as dull pain or pain in the upper abdomen, which may radiate to the back. This pain is usually related to the compression of surrounding tissues or nerves by the tumor. The pain may occur intermittently in the early stage and gradually worsen as the disease progresses. It is recommended to perform abdominal CT or MRI examination as soon as possible when persistent abdominal discomfort occurs to clarify the cause.

2. Jaundice is an important signal of pancreatic cancer, especially in patients with pancreatic head cancer. Because the tumor compresses the bile duct, bile excretion is blocked, which manifests as yellow skin and sclera, dark yellow urine, and lighter stool color. The appearance of jaundice indicates that the tumor may have affected the bile duct system, and blood tests and imaging examinations such as ultrasound or CT should be performed in time to evaluate the bile duct obstruction.

3. Weight loss is one of the typical symptoms of pancreatic cancer, often accompanied by loss of appetite and indigestion. Tumors consume energy in the body and affect the secretion of digestive enzymes by the pancreas, leading to nutrient absorption disorders. If you lose weight significantly in a short period of time, you should be alert to the possibility of pancreatic cancer. It is recommended to conduct blood tests such as CA19-9 and imaging examinations to rule out malignant tumors.

4. Indigestion and steatorrhea are early manifestations of pancreatic cancer. The tumor affects the exocrine function of the pancreas, resulting in insufficient secretion of digestive enzymes and inability to fully digest food. Patients may experience abdominal distension and diarrhea, especially after eating greasy food. It is recommended to adjust the diet structure and reduce fat intake. At the same time, pancreatic function tests and imaging examinations are performed to clarify the cause.

5. Abnormal blood sugar may also be an early sign of pancreatic cancer, because the tumor destroys the endocrine function of the pancreas, affects insulin secretion, and causes blood sugar fluctuations. If there is no history of diabetes, and blood sugar suddenly rises or diabetes that is difficult to control, you need to be alert to the possibility of pancreatic cancer. It is recommended to monitor blood sugar and perform pancreatic imaging examinations to rule out tumors.

The symptoms of early pancreatic cancer are hidden, but can be initially identified through manifestations such as abdominal discomfort, jaundice, weight loss, indigestion and abnormal blood sugar. Timely medical treatment and imaging examinations, blood tests and tissue biopsies are the key to diagnosis and treatment. Early detection and intervention can significantly improve treatment outcomes and survival rates.