Cancer in the pancreas can have some pretty mean complications. The worst of them is dying from it, but other complications someone can experience include unintended weight loss, (severe) abdominal pain, bowel obstructions, and jaundice. The latter happens when cancer blocks the liver’s bile duct. Skin and eyes turn yellow, urine turns a dark color and stools turn pale.
Symptoms of Pancreatic Cancer
Unfortunately, pancreatic cancer is often detected in its late stages – when the cancer is spread to other organs or tissues. This is partly because in earlier stages people experience little to no symptoms. Warning signs of pancreatic cancer are:
- Upper abdominal pain that may radiate to your back
- Loss of appetite
- Unintended weight loss
- Jaundice
- Itchy skin
- Diabetes or difficulty controlling it
- Blood clots
- (Severe) fatigue
- Nausea & vomiting
- (Chronic) pancreatitis
Treatment Options
In case you suspect you – or a loved one – are suffering from these symptoms it’s crucial to visit your professional healthcare provider as soon as possible and voice your concerns to him or her. Your healthcare provider will listen to your story, and ask you some important questions, like what kind of symptoms you have, how long you’ve been experiencing it, and whether it’s getting worse or not. Tests such as endoscopic ultrasound, a biopsy, and blood tests are also done. In case the diagnosis of “pancreatic cancer” is made by your professional healthcare provider, like an oncologist, a treatment plan is set up. Treatment options include:
- Surgery to remove the cancerous part of the pancreas
- Radiation therapy to kill cancer cells
- Chemotherapy to kill cancer cells
- Immunotherapy helps your body fight the cancer cells
- Targeted therapy to kill targeted genetics or proteins that help cancer grow
There are so many ways to treat cancer these days, the above-mentioned options are just a few examples. Sometimes they are combined, but it can also happen that these treatments do not help (anymore), so other options should be considered. That’s why it’s essential to do your own extensive online research and stay up to date about new treatments. Have you already been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer but aren’t satisfied with your treatment plan? Getting a second opinion in another hospital or oncology center is always a smart idea. Start your search today:
