Pancreatic cancer begins in the tissues of your pancreas — an organ in your abdomen that lies behind the lower part of your stomach. Your pancreas releases enzymes that aid digestion and produces hormones that help manage your blood sugar. (Mayo Clinic – Pancreatic Cancer)
Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer often don’t occur until the disease is advanced. They may include:
- Abdominal pain that radiates to your back
- Loss of appetite or unintended weight loss
- Yellowing of your skin and the whites of your eyes (jaundice)
- Light-colored stools
- Dark-colored urine
- Itchy skin
- New diagnosis of diabetes or existing diabetes that’s becoming more difficult to control
- Blood clots
- Fatigue
Pancreatic cancer is a very serious disease that can be difficult to detect in the early stages. This is because the pancreas is located deep in the abdomen, and tumors can grow without causing any symptoms until they are quite large.
The most common symptoms of pancreatic cancer include:
- Abdominal pain: This pain is often located in the upper abdomen, and it may radiate to the back. The pain may be constant or intermittent, and it may be worse after eating.
- Weight loss: Unexplained weight loss is a common symptom of pancreatic cancer. People with pancreatic cancer may lose 10 or more pounds in a short period of time.
- Jaundice: Jaundice is caused by a buildup of bilirubin in the blood. Bilirubin is a yellow pigment that is produced when red blood cells break down. When the pancreas is blocked by a tumor, bilirubin cannot be removed from the blood, and it builds up in the skin and eyes, causing them to turn yellow.
- Dark urine: Dark urine is another symptom of jaundice. This is because bilirubin gives urine its yellow color.
- Light-colored stools: Light-colored stools are also a symptom of jaundice. This is because bilirubin gives stool its brown color.
- Nausea and vomiting: Nausea and vomiting are common symptoms of pancreatic cancer. These symptoms may be caused by the tumor blocking the bile duct, which can lead to a buildup of bile in the stomach.
- Difficulty digesting food: Difficulty digesting food is another common symptom of pancreatic cancer. This is because the pancreas produces enzymes that are necessary for digestion. When the pancreas is damaged by cancer, it may not be able to produce enough enzymes, which can lead to problems digesting food.
- Pain or discomfort in the back: Pain or discomfort in the back is another symptom of pancreatic cancer. This pain is often caused by the tumor pressing on the spine.
If you have any of these symptoms, it is important to see a doctor right away. Pancreatic cancer is a serious disease, but early diagnosis and treatment can improve the chances of survival.
Thanks Bard
Notes: how much is one weight loss, nausea, and vomiting caused by the medications they give you when in hospice?
Factors that impacted mom’s weight loss:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- PTSD from eating, belching, and vomiting
- Mental health – suicidal ideation
- Nearly all, if not all of her medications in hospice had moderate to severe side effects of nausea and vomiting
- She quit her medications in 4/25 and is only in Lovenox (6/6) for a blood clot.
