What are the symptoms of pancreatic cancer?

Written by Zhou Chen
Oncology
Updated on September 13, 2024
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The clinical manifestations of pancreatic cancer mainly depend on the location of the cancer, the stage of the disease, whether there is metastasis, and the involvement of adjacent organs. The clinical characteristics include a short disease course, rapid progression, and swift deterioration. The most common symptom is upper abdominal distension and discomfort, pain, though not all patients experience tenderness; if tenderness is present, it aligns with the area of pain felt. Pain is a primary symptom of pancreatic cancer, present whether the cancer is located in the head or the body/tail of the pancreas. Jaundice is a main symptom of cancer in the head of the pancreas, and patients often exhibit more severe gastrointestinal symptoms, most commonly loss of appetite, followed by nausea and vomiting. There might also be diarrhea or constipation, even melena. Diarrhea is often steatorrhea. In the early stages of pancreatic cancer, common symptoms include weight loss and fatigue.

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Written by Zhou Chen
Oncology
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Can pancreatic cancer patients eat eggs?

The dietary principles for pancreatic cancer are: First, eat nutritionally rich foods; second, pay attention to reasonable combinations; third, adjust the dietary structure; and fourth, appropriately include some fungi. Patients with pancreatic cancer should first consider nutrition in their diet, and can eat more high-protein, high-carbohydrate foods, such as fish, liver, eggs, milk, vegetable soup, etc., to supplement the nutrients and energy needed by the body. Based on their actual physical condition, they should adjust their diet structure and ensure nutritional balance. Therefore, it is acceptable for pancreatic cancer patients to eat eggs.

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Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
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What are the symptoms of pancreatic cancer?

The most common symptom of pancreatic cancer is abdominal pain, typically pain in the upper abdomen. Jaundice is also common, especially in cancers of the head of the pancreas, where it is the most frequent clinical manifestation. Upon physical examination, some patients may have a palpable mass in the upper abdomen. Other common symptoms include gastrointestinal issues, such as nausea, vomiting, a feeling of fullness after eating, and a decrease in appetite. These are some of the symptoms related to the digestive tract.

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Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
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Is there still a cure for pancreatic cancer with liver metastasis?

Pancreatic cancer with liver metastasis is considered to be in the advanced stage, but some patients can still benefit from treatment in terms of survival. They can choose chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and oral anti-angiogenesis medications, among others. The choice of specific medications should take into account the patient's overall condition and various other factors. The effectiveness of the treatment varies from person to person; some patients may benefit from the treatment, while others may not see significant improvement, but these options are still worth considering.

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Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
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Is a pancreatic tumor the same as pancreatic cancer?

Pancreatic tumors include benign and malignant tumors of the pancreas. Common benign pancreatic tumors include insulinomas, which can cause hypoglycemia due to excessive insulin secretion. Other benign tumors of the pancreas include adenomas, lipomas, and fibromas, which are relatively rare clinically. Malignant tumors of the pancreas are commonly referred to as pancreatic cancer, which has a high degree of malignancy. Early-stage pancreatic cancer patients are primarily treated with surgery.

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Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
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What does pancreatic cancer ascites mean?

When pancreatic cancer causes ascites, particularly a large amount, we can collect the ascites to search for cancer cells. This generally indicates peritoneal metastasis, or metastasis above the liver which can also cause substantial ascites. In such cases, it typically signifies that the disease has progressed to a late stage, classified as stage IV. Patients in this category are unable to undergo surgery and their treatment primarily involves chemotherapy. If the patient's overall condition is good, chemotherapy can be chosen. If the patient's condition is relatively poor, targeted therapy or oral anti-angiogenesis medications may be selected to control the pancreatic cancer and manage the tumor. If the patient's condition is particularly poor, the approach involves placing a peritoneal drainage tube to remove the ascites and providing the best possible symptomatic supportive care.