Pancreatic Cancer Symptoms: Early Signs of Pancreatic Cancer

Because of the vague symptoms, pancreatic cancer is often referred to as a silent disease. My grandfather died January 12, 2009 of pancreatic cancer. He had two bouts of skin cancer last summer and had complained of stomach problems which to him, had been caused by something he had eaten. His doctor thought that he probably had stomach cancer for about a year before it spread to his liver and pancreas.

Like my grandfather thinking his stomach problems were caused by something he ate, many symptoms pancreatic cancer are mistaken for other things and sometimes there are no symptoms at all. Pancreatic cancer can be difficult to detect and unfortunately by the time people experience distinct symptoms, the pancreatic cancer has already spread and begun to disable other organs.

Early Signs of Pancreatic Cancer

There are different types of pancreatic cancer with different symptoms. If you experience any of the following symptoms, check with your physician.

Weight Loss or Loss of Apetite
Unexpected or unintended loss of weight is a common sign of many forms of cancer.

Jaundice

Since the pancreatic cancer blocks the duct to the intestine, bile builds up in the blood causing the skin and eyes to turn a yellowish color.

Fat in the Stool or Pale Colored Stool

The pancreas isn't able to secrete fat digesting enzymes causing more fat in the stool. If the duct into the intestine is blocked the stools become pale.

Abdominal Pain or Bloating

A dull ache in the belly with radiating back pain that may come and go or an early feeling of being full when eating as well as abdominal swelling.

Nausea and Diarrhea

Elevated Blood Sugar

Pancreatic cancer impairs the pancreas' ability to produce insulin. Some people will have a sudden onset of diabetes with pancreatic cancer.

Itching
People with pancreatic cancer sometimes report itching all over.

The Importance of Early Detection of Pancreatic Cancer

The signs of pancreatic cancer were most apparent in my grandfather's final days. It happened very quickly and he experienced almost all of these symptoms. He died less than a month after he was diagnosed but thankfully he was able to spend the last month surrounded by his wife, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. T

There are a number of forms of treatment if pancreatic cancer is detected in its very earliest stages. Hopefully one day pancreatic cancer will be detected quicker so that it can be treated before it spreads and shuts down the body's other vital organs.

www.webmd.com