and today this is perhaps the most critical question we have to handle this is one of those questions that could in fact save someone's life pancreatic cancer it's a silent killer with quite late detection so the symptoms are everything the pancreas is an organ in the abdomen lying behind the lower part of the stomach pancreatic cancer is cancer that starts in the tissues of the pancreas this kind of cancer is really serious because it's hard to find early on which makes treating it harder this is because the symptoms may not be immediate or may even
be confused used with everyday common issues from the host of other reasons one might be experiencing them not necessarily cancer related that's why knowing what signs to look out for is super important in our video today we're going to talk about the 10 warning signs of pancreatic cancer that you shouldn't ignore these are like Clues to you that something might not be quite right your body can let you know with these warning signs what a difference it may make if people come in to see us earlier what a difference getting the right treatment earlier May
mean in terms of feeling not so great to feeling better better or even living longer some of these may surprise you and others might be some things you have heard of but did not know they could be associated with pancreatic cancer the pancreas an organ about the size of your hand lying behind the lower part of your stomach pancreatic cancer begins when abnormal cells in the pancreas grow out of control and form a tumor making hormones to control blood sugar and enzymes to help us digest food is the role of this really important organ the
pancreas is therefore treacherous in the sense that pancreatic cancer does not show very very clear signs that something is wrong until the tumor has grown to a fair size or has spread to other places in the body this is a big reason it is often found in later stages rather than earlier the most Salient drawback of pancreatic cancer would be the relatively non-specific nature of the early symptoms of the disease sometimes early warning signs may be as easy and interpreted completely differently like stomach pain weight loss without trying or feeling very tired all the whole
time such symptoms can easily be confused with trivial health problem problems whereby people wouldn't rush for a doctor's consultation at once such procrastination gives time to the silent growth of the cancer being informed helps us make better decisions for our health and encourages us to seek help when something feels off let's get started symptom number one jaundice jaundice is a state of health in which the skin and the whites of the eyes become yellow due to increased Billy Rubin in the blood Billy Rubin is a yellow pigment that the body produces when it breaks down
old red blood cells normally the liver processes B Rubin mixing it with bile and then getting rid of it through your digestive system however under normal circumstances the liver may be incapable of releasing bil Rubin or there may be a problem at any place that removes biler Rubin when a high amount of biler Rubin gets into your body and accumulates you may become jaundice this isn't a disease on its own but rather a sign of an underlying health issue there are several reasons why someone might get jaundice this may be due to liver sicknesses such
as hepatitis or curosis in which the effective breakdown or processing of the biler Rubin in the liver may not be properly realized it may also occur when there is an obstruction of the bile ducts I.E the passages of the bile from the liver to the intestine this could be from gall stones or in very severe cases from cancers pressing upon or blocking these ducts such as pancreatic cancer jaundice in adults often indicates a significant health issue that needs medical evaluation in addition to yellowing the skin and eyes it can be associated with other signs such
as dark urine pale colored stools and itching these indicate to the doctor what is causing jaundice for it is impossible to treat it without treating the problem that caused it the awareness of jaundice and its meaning should hence be very key this then would be the clear indication from the body of something that would have definitely gone wrong more so with the liver or bile system symptom number two unexplained weight loss unexplained weight loss is a condition that occurs to a person without the intention in the cause of dieting or exercises it's when you lose
your weight without Act being aware or realize it yourself be it that your clothes are fitting looser or dropping numbers on the weighing scale when you have not changed your eating or exercise habits while it might seem like a welcome surprise to some it can actually be a sign of an underlying health issue this weight loss could be of an all of a sudden kind not intending to and whenever such is the case then it might tell us a thing or two that apparently your body isn't getting the required energy from your diet there might
as well be burning of more calories than usual due due to disease processes among many other possible reasons this can be one of the symptoms indicating conditions of an overactive thyroid hyperthyroidism diabetes depression or digestive diseases most importantly this is also one of the common symptoms occurring in many types of cancers including pancreatic cancer unexplained loss of weight may happen in the course of pancreatic cancer because of several reasons the pancreas may be involved in such a way that its exocrine function for the production of enzymes facilitating the digestion of food is compromised leading to
malabsorption and hence weight loss otherwise a tumor pressing against the stomach can leave the person feeling full of only a small amount of intake of food any cancer in general increases the rate of metabolism meaning quicker burn of calories than the body actually should unexplained loss of body weight is a warning sign that should always be taken with due seriousness symptoms should attract attention in case they are quite pronounced for example body weight loss of more than 5% in 6 to 12 months accomp by other signs of illness symptom number three abdominal pain abdominal pain
is one of the common symptoms it is pain affecting the area between the chest and the pelvis the intensity of this pain may be from slight discomfort to severe distress causes of pain in the abdomen are varied as this region of the body covers many important internal organs such as the stomach liver pancreas and intestines and the origin of the pain can be hard to find at times they may relate to the underlying pathology or be characterized by the location of pain sharp dull intermittent constant one significant concern with abdominal pain is its potential link
to Serious conditions such as pancreatic cancer in pancreatic cancer pain progresses and is normally focal in the upper abdominal region with referred pain going to the back from the side this may be due to pressure from a tumor against organs or nerves around the pancreas the discomfort can increase after eating or when lying down and it will become more constant when the cancer spreads abdominal pain can also be symptomatic of less severe conditions such as indigestion gas or a stomach virus however very severe pain that sets on all of a sudden comes along with jaundice
yellow skin and eyes loss of weight not explained or any changes in the habits of the bowels are all reasons to see a doctor immediately these additional symptoms can indicate a more serious underlying issue that needs to be addressed don't ever ignore the pain in your belly especially if it continues or if other accompanying symptoms occur symptom number four digestive issues usually digestive troubles include the general kind of symptoms which affect the gastrointestinal tract from the mouth to the anus they usually take the form of nausea vomiting diarrhea or constipation changes in the consistency or
color of the stool occur mostly in a loose or liquid texture digestive problems can range from mild conditions leaving one feeling slightly uncomfortable to Serious conditions that impede daily activities and even overall health for instance the cause may be a really common factor and result from dietary choices or stress or possibly from infections to more serious ones like the already mentioned chronic conditions or digestive organs diseases such as ulcers gastroesophageal reflux disease or another essential on the pancreas and pancreatic cancer involves digestion the body's enzymes which are secreted help in the digestion process of fats
proteins and carbohydrates for use in preparing the body for nutrient absorption so where cancer upsets this function the absorption of nutrients is impaired and hence digestive symptoms for example in pancreatic cancer nausea and vomiting are experienced because a tumor blocks the stomach and therefore food does not make its way through very easily it may also lead to changes in the stool such as steria fatty stool which is the type of stool characterized when there is poor digestion and poor absorption of fats in the body problems to do with digestion in the cases of pancreatic cancer
will also include abdominal pains and bloating that are felt after taking food since the body may have a big challenge in digesting food without a good number of pancreatic enzymes secreted excluding discomfort all these symptoms can give rise to very strong nutritional deficiencies and weight loss in general these symptoms can have an effect on the quality of life and the health status of the patient symptom number five loss of appetite the loss of appetite or in other words anorexia is a medical condition that refers to the low desire of someone to eat as much as
this can sometimes be occasioned probably by stress or sickness persistent loss of appeti it can be a red flag for any underlying health issue this disorder affects not only eating habits but can also lead to Serious weight loss and nutritional deficiencies weakening the body's ability to recover from illnesses there can be many causes for a loss of appetite psychological such as caused by depression or anxiety physical during conditions such as gastrointestinal disorders chronic ailments or infections most importantly however loss of appetite is associated with a number of cancers including pancreatic cancer in relation to pancreatic
cancer this symptom of loss of appetite may be noticed with several causes the food substances produced by the cancer may lead to altering the taste of food or reduce the appetite for food additionally it has a tumor that presses the stomach into feeling full even after one has eaten a very small amount of food some forms of treatments such as chemotherapy are also able to reduce appetite through its side effects that include nausea and other taste changes the loss of appetite in pancreatic cancer is alarming because it leads to cachexia A syndrome whereby a person
experiences intensive weight loss or muscle wasting despite intake of calories being enough it is not a trivial question of weight loss that is the whole bunch of complications that can influence critically the strengths immune response and quality of life of a patient symptom number six new onset diabetes new onset diabetes is the development of diabetes suddenly in an individual with previously normal blood sugar levels it is most remarkable when the same occurs in adults over 50 years without manifest reason such as major changes in weight diet or lifestyle this could bring on symptoms of increased
thirst and urination unexplained weight loss fatigue or blurred vision these symptoms arise because the body is unable to properly use and regulate glucose sugar in the bloodstream in the context of pancreatic cancer new onset diabetes can be a significant warning sign it is very important for the control of sugar in the body because through its secretion of insulin a hormone used for absorbing gluc ose from the blood into the body cells sugar is balanced appropriately if such a tumor involves the pancreas it would either impede the pancreas from Secret creating or else elaborating insulin and
high blood sugar level would therefore follow hence also diabetes melodus exactly how new onset diabetes relates to pancreatic cancer is not well understood but it is believed to be related to the cancer possibly changing how the pancreas works or in another way the body uses insulin in others the onset is the first sign of diabetes and if other symptoms remain vague or absent it is in fact cancer that eventually leads to the diagnosis of diabetes it's important to note that not all cases of new onset diabetes are related to pancreatic cancer but if all of
a sudden a person develops diabetes without its usual risk factors like obesity family history or sedentary lifestyle more particularly if he is more than 50 years old always it is advisable to go in for a proper medical checkup to rule out any illness from within the body like pancreatic cancer or others symptom number seven itchy skin the itching of the skin is a sensation developing an urge or reflex of scratching a particular place that could be caused by the occurrence of both visible and invisible rashes although usually somewhat mild and temporary chronic itching can suggest
some underlying health problems that should not be ignored one of the more surprising causes of itchy skin is liver or bile duct problems the liver processes waste and the bile ducts bile a digestive fluid from the liver to the small intestine however if the liver is not working properly or bile ducts have some blockage bile salts can pile up in the bloodstream rather than leaving the body this excessive accumulation can cause itching often with little or no rash this may produce peridic skin from the blockage of the bile duct by a tumor this stops the
normal flow of bile and allows the body to build up including the bile salts this itching often times is accompanied by yet another classic jaundice symptom yellowing to the skin and eyes from the same bile duct blockage in fact it is just another direct symptom that something is wrong within or with the liver or the bile system and the pancreas is included in that system the itchy skin in conditions such as pancreatic cancer or other liver related diseases is normally more General chronic and Progressive than the local purus as found in dry skin and eczema
it also tends to worsen at night affecting sleep and the quality of life of an individual symptom number eight fatigue it is a manifest station of fatigue that represents the most common symptom in many depicting an overwhelming and constant unrelieved state of body tiredness weakness or exhaustion that is not recovered by rest or sleep it may happen to anyone and relief is generally found by taking rest sometimes fatigue is quite a normal response in case of an overexertion physically lack of proper sleep and some sort of stress or boredom however if the fatigue is persistent
and of unyielding nature without any visibility of symptoms to show why occurs it would signal an underlying medical condition as the cause fatigue is defined as a health condition that is more than being tired not having energy without relief even after a rest is a definition that hinders daily activities and quality of life among other health issues such as cancer there lies the difference in this kind of fatigue with General tiredness it is not essentially caused by energy expenditure and has no relief on rest pancreatic cancer can cause fatigue for several reasons the cancerous cells
outdo the normal cells in competition and this leads to malnutrition which is a contributory factor in fatigue another way pancreatic cancer may result in fatigue is when a patient has a poor appetite and digestion problems which will also reduce both the intake of nutrients and the absorption of energy nutrients besides from the emotional load of living with cancer and the stress the sickness has on the person's body an individual would feel weary besides Pancreatic Cancer Treatments like chemotherapy can result in side effects that include fatigue which may further exacerbate the tiredness that the disease proper
may have caused symptom number nine blood clots a blood clot is a gel-like clump of blood that forms in your veins or arteries it is formed in your body to seal off and prevent further bleeding when an injury has occurred however when clots form without an obvious injury or don't dissolve naturally they can pose serious health risks this can lead to complications such as deep vein thrombosis due to the formation of clots that olude the blood flow in the veins of the legs or a clot May travel to the lungs causing pulmonary embolis which is
dangerous to life some underlying fatal health conditions that are first signaled by blood clots may include varied types of cancers such as pancreatic cancer some of the factors that make the risk of blood clots technically called thrombosis are raised with cancer It is believed that these cancer cells May produce substances that increase clotting of the blood some of the treatments for cancer may also increase blood clot risk in cases of pancreatic cancer it is actually the effect of the disease that not only compromis es the blood supply to the pancreas and its surrounding but also
increases the thrombotic tendency the complications present with clots in pancreatic cancer patients when the clot has moved to the lungs there might be sudden shortness of breath the swelling pain and redness on one of the limbs most probably a leg are pointing to the possible signs of the clot and complications set in as soon as the clot has traveled to the lungs symptom number 10 changes in stool or urine color changes in color of stool or urine can be direct reflections signals into one's health either signaling minor issues or more serious conditions for most people
normal stool is brown in color and comes from bile a digestive fluid produced in the liver normally urine changes from pale yellow to deep amber in color due to hydration but really remarkable deviations from these colors can provide important clues about your bodily functions similarly dark urine most often means a person is dehydrated and signals increasing the amount of water they are drinking however when the consistent darkness of urine even when adequately hydrated comes about or the presence of blood turning urine pink or red the latter might be to indicate liver problems or urinary tract
infections among other concerns in the same view color changes in the stool May signal a health problem light or clay colored stool or even white stool signals a blockage in the bile duct the condition may arise from many things among them gall stones or tumors that press on the bile duct on the other hand very dark or black stools may be indicative of bleeding from the upper part of the gastrointestinal tract like from ulcers or gastric cancers in the context of pancreatic cancer changes in stool or urine color are particularly noteworthy where the pancreas is
attached it aids digestion and at the same time there is regulation of some enzymes which Aid in the degradation of food stuffs it may be that a tumor has blocked the bile duct in that case if bile is prevented from entering the intestines there is going to be a light coloration of the stool and that of urine will be dark this blockage affects the digestion and absorption of fats further altering stool appearance if you acknowledge that from today's topic indeed some of the above symptoms accompany you such as losing weight without trying changing appetite or
any other consider them as a message to get advice from a healthc care provider be aware your body talks with symptoms paying attention to such signals in their first stages could have a big impact on your health don't wait and ignore these signals your health should not be left to chance Not only would time-to time consultation with a doctor keep you in line with health issues but regular visits might actually catch a problem that you might not even have known was brewing set reminders for the same on a monthly quarterly or annual basis that becomes
part of your daily regimen for a healthier life last but not least if this was of any help please do like the video and subscribe to our Channel you're also taking a step further to be health conscious and spreading awareness of such topics value your health for it is invaluable follow your heart and act when it is due let's work together for a healthier future
