Since the pancreas is deep in the body, tumors that develop cannot usually be seen or felt during a physical examination and by the time symptoms develop, the cancer has often spread throughout the pancreas and beyond. One exception to this is ampullary cancer, a cancer that forms where the pancreatic and bile duct empty into the duodenum. Since ampullary cancer often obstructs the flow of bile from the bile duct and causes jaundice, it has the potential of being detected earlier than most exocrine cancers.
Pancreatic cancer is a form of cancer that occurs and develops within the pancreas tissues when cancerous cells grow and divide abnormally, resulting in tumors. Pancreatic cancer often spreads rapidly and is difficult to diagnose in its early stages due to a lack of obvious symptoms which are more prevalent in other types of cancers. Unfortunately, these symptoms don't become noticable until the cancer is in an advanced stage.
Signs and Symptoms of Pancreatic Cancer The most common signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer are:
- Jaundice (the skin and eyes becomes yellow): Almost half of all patients with pancreatic cancer display this symptom. This symptom is caused by the accumulation of bilirubin in the tissue and blood. Bilirubin is a dark green-colored substance produced by the liver. Jaundice occurs when there is a blockage in the bile duct which prevents bile from reaching the intestine. Sometimes, jaundice is preceded by a darker color urine, (because the bilirubin is eliminated from the body through the urine).
- Constant or intermittent pain in the upper or middle abdomen and back: The pain can be caused by the tumor which spreads to the adjacent nerve network that surrounds the pancreas.
- Weight loss: Weight loss occurs when the cancer interferes with and restrains the normal food-processing function of the pancreas.
- Digestive problems: Pancreatic cancer affects the normal function of the pancreas, preventing pancreatic juice from being released into the intestine. For this reason, patients with pancreatic cancer find it difficult to digest fat foods.
- Gallbladder enlargement: Sometimes, the pancreatic cancer blocks the bile duct and causes the bile to accumulate in the gallbladder. This can make the cancer detected earlier due to the enlarged gallbladder which is easily detected during a physical examination or imaging test.
- Blood clots or fatty tissue abnormalities: In some cases, a sign of pancreatic cancer may be the development of a blood clot in a large vein or present itself as uneven texture of fat tissue right beneath the skin. This abnormal fat tissue mass is caused by the release of the pancreatic enzymes that digest fat foods.
- Loss of appetite
- Fatigue and exhaustion
- Depression
Unfortunately, there are no laboratory tests available for the early detection or diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. Diagnosis is usually made after the cancer has already spread, using imaging tests and biopsy.
Some diagnostic and imaging tests that may be used include:
- Computed tomography (CT) scan: useful for detecting pancreatic masses and checking for metastasized cancer
- Biopsy: used to confirm diagnosis of cancer, often in conjunction with CT scan
- Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP): a test that uses a flexible scope inserted through the nose, stomach, and into the pancreas and may be used to introduce a dye for X-rays or to place a stent (a metal or plastic tube that can help keep a duct open and functioning)
- Transabdominal ultrasound
- Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP): a type of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) used to see the pancreas, its ducts, and the bile ducts more clearly, often used before or instead of ERCP
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