Early symptoms and signs of pancreatic cancer

Written by Yan Chun
Oncology
Updated on February 21, 2025
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Pancreatic cancer is a malignant tumor of the digestive system and does not have a high clinical incidence rate. Early symptoms of pancreatic cancer are not typical; some patients experience abdominal pain, primarily a persistent episodic pain that may radiate to the shoulder and back. Additionally, early-stage pancreatic head cancer patients may exhibit jaundice, often caused by obstructive jaundice due to tumor compression. Besides this, patients may also have clay-colored stools or urine the color of strong tea. Beyond these symptoms, early-stage patients exhibit no other signs. When typical clinical manifestations occur, they are generally indicative of mid to late-stage pancreatic cancer. Precursors to pancreatic cancer include persistent hidden pain in the shoulder or a stiff pain in the back. This continuous pain, often caused by the invasion of the abdominal nervous plexus, results in radiating pain.

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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.

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What to do about pancreatic cancer pain?

Pancreatic cancer pain is common in clinical practice, with some patients presenting with abdominal pain as their initial symptom. Pain management can be symptomatic, using analgesics for relief. For mild pain, tramadol can be chosen for pain relief. For severe pain, opioid analgesics such as morphine sustained-release tablets, oxycodone sustained-release tablets, or morphine tablets can be used for pain relief. These are merely symptomatic treatments. The fundamental approach involves surgical or oncological treatments like chemotherapy or radiotherapy to treat pancreatic cancer. Only when the tumor is controlled will the symptoms of pain be alleviated.

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Late-stage symptoms of pancreatic cancer

Late symptoms of pancreatic cancer include abdominal pain, or sore and swollen back pain, as well as nausea, vomiting, decreased appetite, indigestion, and discomfort of upper abdominal fullness. These are some symptoms affecting the digestive tract. Additionally, there is jaundice caused by tumor compression of the bile duct, as well as skin itching, and even fever. Some patients show clinical manifestations such as ascites when there is metastasis to the liver, or abdominal or retroperitoneal lymph nodes.

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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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Which test for pancreatic cancer is the most accurate?

Abdominal ultrasound and abdominal CT scans are the most commonly used imaging methods for diagnosing pancreatic cancer. Additionally, it is important to consider the patient's symptoms and blood tests for tumor markers, mainly IP antigen, CEA, and CA19-9. Confirming pancreatic cancer requires a biopsy to find cancer cells, which is the gold standard for diagnosis. Other tests can serve as screening and adjunct diagnostic tools. Confirmation requires a biopsy for pathological diagnosis or direct radical surgery followed by a postoperative pathological confirmation.