In some cases, the disease does not show symptoms at all, which means that the diagnosis may be made too late for treatment.
Although this disease is the 10th most common type of cancer, it is the fifth most fatal. It also has poor survival rates, with only five percent of patients surviving for 10 years or longer.
This has earned it a reputation as a “silent killer”, with health authorities warning that the disease may be diagnosed too late.
“One reason for the poor outlook for pancreatic cancer is that it is often diagnosed late. Only about 10 out of 100 people (about 10 percent) can undergo surgery to remove pancreatic cancer, which gives the best chance of a cure, ”oncologist Andrey Vorobyov says specifically for MedicForum.
The oncologist named seven main symptoms to look out for:
- Jaundice (yellowing of the whites of the eyes or skin)
- Dark urine
- Pale stools
- Loss of appetite
- Unintentional weight loss
- Fatigue
- Fever or feeling hot or chilly
“In some cases, it can also cause pain in the upper abdomen and back. This can worsen when you eat or lie down and improve when you lean forward.”
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The disease can also cause problems that affect digestion:
- Diarrhea or constipation or other changes in stool< /li>
- Indigestion symptoms, such as feeling bloated.
These symptoms may be caused by something else, such as irritable bowel syndrome, but you should still talk to your GP
Pancreatic cancer: the first symptoms of the “silent killer”
Earlier, MedicalForum wrote about the benefits of plums.
Important! Information provided for reference purposes. Ask a specialist about contraindications and side effects and under no circumstances self-medicate. At the first sign of illness, consult a doctor.