What are the early symptoms of acute pancreatic cancer? Similar to general digestive tract symptoms

Generally speaking, the symptoms of pancreatic cancer are very easy to be ignored by patients. As long as we are vigilant, we can still detect it early. So what are the early symptoms of acute pancreatic cancer? Let's take a look at them together.

If the early symptoms of pancreatic cancer can be detected and treated in time, this common malignant tumor disease can still be cured. However, like many cancers, the early symptoms of pancreatic cancer are often not easy to detect. Although it develops slowly, it can easily spread to organs such as the liver and gallbladder.

1. Abdominal mass

In addition to causing obstructive jaundice, pancreatic head cancer also often causes gallbladder enlargement, which can be clearly palpated in the right upper abdomen. Obstructive jaundice accompanied by gallbladder enlargement often indicates a periampullary tumor. Patients with advanced pancreatic cancer may have a fixed mass in the upper abdomen.

2. Upper abdominal discomfort and dull pain

It is the most common first symptom of pancreatic cancer. Tumors often cause obstruction of the pancreatic duct or bile duct. Although jaundice has not yet occurred, bile excretion is not smooth, the pressure in the bile duct increases, and the bile duct and gallbladder are dilated to varying degrees. Pancreatic cancer patients may feel abdominal discomfort and dull pain. In the past, the typical symptom of pancreatic head cancer was emphasized to be painless jaundice. In fact, painless jaundice only occurs in 10% to 30% of patients as the first symptom. Abdominal pain is still a very common symptom in patients with pancreatic head cancer. As for pancreatic body and tail cancer, the incidence of abdominal pain is higher, and it may cause significant upper abdominal pain and back pain due to involvement of the celiac plexus. The appearance of this symptom often indicates that the disease has entered the late stage.

3. Obstructive jaundice

It is a prominent manifestation of pancreatic head cancer. If the tumor is near the ampulla, jaundice may occur early, and jaundice is often persistent and progressive. The stool becomes lighter in color, even clay-colored, the skin turns yellow to brown or bronze, and there is skin itching.

4. Loss of appetite and weight loss

It is also a common manifestation of pancreatic cancer. Tumors often block the excretion of pancreatic juice and bile, thus affecting the patient's appetite and causing poor digestion and absorption, leading to significant weight loss.

5. Constipation

It is a relatively obvious early symptom of pancreatic cancer. Pay close attention to your bowel movements. If you have loose stools no more than three times a day, you should be relieved. But if you have constipation, it is quite dangerous; because the pancreatic duct is blocked, after a sudden and severe pain, the pancreas will autolyze and the patient will die suddenly.

In the early stage of pancreatic cancer, patients can have three or five meals a day, but do not eat snacks in the middle, because this will easily increase the burden on the pancreas. The diet should be reasonably matched, and attention should be paid to the ratio of carbohydrates, fats and proteins. Carbohydrates should be the main food, and the amount of fat and protein should be appropriate. Proteins that are easy to digest and absorb should be consumed, such as lean meat, eggs and fish. Reasonable cooking methods should be used, such as boiling, stewing, simmering, steaming, frying, and blanching. Do not use methods such as frying, deep-frying, and stir-frying to prevent excessive secretion of the pancreas due to excessive fat in the food.