Even your favorite dessert makes you want to throw up (5/12)
Loss of appetite is another early indicator of pancreatic cancer. “When tumors develop in the abdomen, they can put pressure on surrounding organs, including the stomach,” says Anton Bilchik. As a result, you feel full even if you haven't eaten for hours and you often experience nausea. Eating can even be painful.
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You're losing weight unintentionally (6/12)
This loss of appetite can easily lead to rapid weight loss. For example, it represents, on average, a loss of more than 5% of body weight within six months to a year. “If you can't explain your recent and rapid weight loss by another reason, you should consult a doctor,” advises the surgeon.
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You have terrible lower back pain (7/12)
When a pancreatic tumor develops, it puts pressure not only on internal organs but also on the lower spine and back muscles, causing constant, dull pain. Because of period cramps, women are used to experiencing lower back pain regularly. So how can you tell if it's due to premenstrual syndrome, too many hours at the gym, or something serious like pancreatic cancer? “If the pain is constant (that is, it doesn't go away at the end of your period), you should get it checked out,” the expert advises.
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Your Urine Looks More Like Tea (8/12)
Dark urine is a sign of dehydration, but it's also often the first sign of jaundice that people notice. “Because the tumor causes decreased bile excretion and increased bilirubin levels in the blood, the urine turns brown,” according to the American Cancer Society. “If increasing your water intake doesn't bring your urine back to its usual light yellow color, it's time to get checked out. Jaundice is an early sign of pancreatic cancer,” says Anton Bilchik.
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You Can't Stop Scratching (9/12)
Generalized itching is perhaps one of the least known early symptoms of jaundice and pancreatic cancer. “The buildup of bilirubin in the skin can cause itching even before it turns jaundice. I've seen patients come in and say, 'It itches terribly here,' and when they lifted their shirt, they saw that it was turning yellow,” says the doctor. If you can't attribute your itching to other possible causes, such as insect bites or an allergic reaction, and no lotion provides relief, see a doctor.
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Your stools are strange (10/12)
Grayish, pale, or greasy stools are a sign of poor health, including pancreatic cancer. Again, this is due to bilirubin. It is normally excreted by the intestines in stool and gives fecal matter its characteristic dark brown color. But when there isn't enough bile because a tumor is blocking it, "bilirubin remains in the body instead of being eliminated in the stool. This can change the color and texture of your stool," explains the ACS. A pancreatic tumor is a likely cause, but there are others: liver disease or a gastrointestinal infection. In any case, they're not good either, so don't hesitate to call your doctor if your poop is consistently pale or floats in the toilet.
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You have stomach pain for no apparent reason (11/12)
Making a doctor's appointment to complain of simple stomach pains may seem irrational, but this type of unspecified pain can be an early symptom of pancreatic cancer, according to Anton Bilchik. Because the pancreas is located in the lower back of the abdomen, behind the stomach, a tumor in this area can cause subtle and persistent stomach pain, regardless of what you've eaten.
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You Just Don't Feel Well (12/12)
While some signs of pancreatic cancer are obvious and specific, others are much less so. But to detect the disease early, you need to pay attention to even the most vague symptoms, including a general feeling of being unwell and malaise that lasts more than a week or two and isn't related to another obvious cause such as the flu. Remember, it's always better to get checked and find out you have nothing wrong than to miss something crucial.
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Pancreatic cancer has one of the highest mortality rates of all cancers. Knowing the symptoms, including these 10 hard-to-detect signs, could save your life!
