Possible Symptoms Of Pancreatic Cancer

This is one of the deadliest cancers one can get. Being able to identify the symptops of pancreatic cancer as early as possible is crucial in successfully having a chance to treat it.

Signs of pancreatic cancer and how it affects the human body.

The human body is like a complex machine and in order for the human body to function on all cylinders and work it requires the dependency of other organs to stay healthy and sustain life, each representing or playing an active role in those dependencies.

Each year millions of Americans undergo medical screenings and procedures such as diabetes, heart, lung and kidneys to ensure those organs that are vital to life are healthy and efficient.


A doctor explaining the symptoms.

The importance of quality medical screenings can be the difference between life and death and that is why these annual screenings are recommended for certain patients that fall into a high-risk category based upon their own or their biological medical background.

There are many forms of cancer, some develop very rare forms of cancer, like those seen in individuals with a suppressed immune system or a cancer that is only predominant in other ethnicity or ones that are seen in the elderly.

There are others who develop cancer that medical personnel classify as “silent,” a type where the signs and symptoms only become noticeable in its advance stages, making it difficult to cure or slow its progress.

The pancreas is a glandular organ that lies in our abdomen and is found just below the stomach and comprises part of our digestive and endocrine system.

The pancreas is responsible for producing several important hormones that include insulin, glucagon, somatostatin and polypeptide which circulate in the blood.

The pancreas plays a vital role in our digestive system as well, releasing digestive enzymes that assist in digesting and absorption of vital nutrients into the small intestine.


It also has the highest mortality rate of all cancers, 94% of all those diagnosed will die within the first five years of diagnosis.

The mortality rate runs high because it is described as a “silent” disease by medical personnel and is one of the few cancers in which survival has not improved over the last 40 years. Some prominent individuals have succumbed such as Steve Job, Patrick Swayze, Joan Crawford and Michael Landon

The signs of pancreatic cancer are difficult to detect because it mimics other ailments, therefore making the detection difficult to pinpoint. Making it more difficult to diagnose is that there are few leading risk factors, but do include.

Family history of the disease, diabetes, smoking and age. An estimated 45,000 people will be diagnosed and 38,000 will succumb.

Besides the risk factors making detection possible there are a few more specific symptoms or conditions you can look for and if one or more of these symptoms exist and persist you should promptly seek medical advice.

Some of the signs of include:


Man is shock of his condition.

Upper abdomen pain that radiates to the back being a common factor and symptom seen in patients.

Heartburn and acid stomach, but this can be a symptom of other various ailments and/or illness along with poor appetite, and/or nausea, vomiting.

Jaundice combined with darkened urine and pale colored stool and the presence of fat in your stool is common. Itching is another common symptom.

The onset of diabetes in advanced ages may provide an early warning sign and suggest that a diabetes diagnosis to an individual with an onset of diabetes at an older age could be an early indication. There are specific, localized issues that can be a tool for early detection as well.

The symptoms mimic many ailments or illness and this list does not suggest that any one of these symptoms should replace or take the place of medical advice. It is silent and usually goes undetected until a diagnosis.

As caretakers of our own bodies we are the first to notice any changes that seem unordinary or unusual. Paying close attention, being proactive and becoming familiar with your body may just prove to be your best medicine.

Consistent and routine checkups is the key to longevity and a healthy life can truly prevent any symptoms of pancreatic cancer.