What are the signs of pancreatic cancer?

Written by Yan Chun
Oncology
Updated on December 19, 2024
00:00
00:00

Pancreatic cancer is a type of malignant tumor of the digestive tract that is difficult to detect in its early stages. The signs of pancreatic cancer mainly include the following: First, among people with diabetes, if there is a sudden occurrence of uncontrollable blood sugar levels, unexplained general fatigue, abdominal pain, decreased appetite, or even jaundice, one should highly suspect the possibility of pancreatic cancer. Second, individuals with a family history of cancer who recently experience unexplained symptoms related to the digestive tract should also be alert to the possibility of pancreatic cancer. Third, some patients may experience unexplained rapid weight loss accompanied by significant jaundice, which should also be considered as potentially indicating pancreatic cancer.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
44sec home-news-image

What should I do if I can't stop vomiting due to pancreatic cancer?

Firstly, we need to ascertain the cause of the vomiting and can provide gastric protection and antiemetic treatment accordingly. If the vomiting is due to biliary obstruction caused by pancreatic cancer, resulting in severe jaundice and intense vomiting, in such cases, we can also place a stent surgically to drain the bile. The jaundice might be relieved afterwards, and accordingly, the vomiting symptoms might also be alleviated. Another aspect is, if the vomiting is caused by the tumor itself due to pancreatic cancer, we need to employ chemotherapy or some targeted or antiangiogenic treatments to control the tumor itself, and only then might the symptoms of vomiting be relieved.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Cui Fang Bo
Oncology
47sec home-news-image

What are the abnormalities in blood indicators for pancreatic cancer?

Blood markers for pancreatic cancer often show multiple abnormalities. Pancreatic cancer itself can lead to an increase in related tumor markers. The two most common markers are carcinoembryonic antigen and carbohydrate antigen 19-9, especially carbohydrate antigen 19-9, which has a certain specificity. If pancreatic cancer progresses further, leading to compression of the biliary system, corresponding jaundice indicators can increase. This includes an increase in total bilirubin and direct bilirubin, as well as alkaline phosphatase and gamma-GTP. The most common metastasis site for pancreatic cancer is the liver, and after liver metastasis occurs, corresponding liver transaminases can increase.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by He Zong Quan
General Surgery
55sec home-news-image

Can acute pancreatitis turn into pancreatic cancer?

Acute pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer are two diseases that occur in the same organ, the pancreas. However, acute pancreatitis is entirely an inflammatory change, often caused by gallstones, alcohol consumption, binge eating, and hyperlipidemia, with some cases being idiopathic. Pancreatic cancer, on the other hand, is a tumorous lesion and is a malignant tumor that generally requires surgery. Many pancreatic cancer patients are already in the advanced stages when discovered, making the surgery difficult to perform. The prognosis for patients is also completely different. After the onset of acute pancreatitis and treatment, the pancreas recovers, the inflammation subsides, and it does not affect a person's lifespan. However, if pancreatic cancer is clearly diagnosed, the lifespan oftentimes does not extend beyond a few years.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Yan Chun
Oncology
1min 8sec home-news-image

What are the symptoms of pancreatic cancer?

Pancreatic cancer is a malignant tumor of the digestive system and its incidence has been increasing year by year. The symptoms of pancreatic cancer patients mainly include the following clinically: 1. Abdominal pain, which is a common manifestation in pancreatic cancer patients. It appears as intermittent pain in the early stages and as persistent severe abdominal pain in the middle and late stages. 2. Jaundice, especially common in patients with cancer of the head of the pancreas, tends to appear early. This jaundice is due to the compression of the bile duct by the tumor, often presenting as obstructive jaundice. Patients may also experience dark tea-colored urine and pale clay-colored stools. Additionally, pancreatic cancer patients may also experience symptoms like weight loss, fatigue, fever, and when the cancer metastasizes to other organs, symptoms related to the metastases may appear.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhou Chen
Oncology
1min 16sec home-news-image

How is pancreatic cancer diagnosed?

Ultrasound, CT, MRI, ERCP (Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography), PTCD (Percutaneous Transhepatic Cholangio Drainage), angiography, laparoscopy, tumor markers measurement, cancer gene analysis, etc., are significantly helpful in confirming the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer and determining whether it is resectable surgically. Generally, ultrasound, CA199, and CEA can be used as screening tests. Once pancreatic cancer is suspected, a CT scan is necessary. If the patient has jaundice, especially severe, and a CT scan cannot confirm the diagnosis, ERCP and PTCD can be considered. If internal drainage is successful, surgery can be delayed for one to two weeks for patients with severe jaundice. The diagnostic value of MRI for pancreatic cancer is not superior to CT. If pancreatic cancer has been confirmed but it is uncertain whether it can be surgically removed, choosing angiography and laparoscopy is also clinically meaningful.