Pancreatic cancer is a medical condition that originates in the pancreatic tissues. The pancreas essentially releases enzymes that help in digestion and produces hormones that manage your blood sugar levels. The condition is rarely diagnosed during its early stages, which makes it difficult to treat. Thus, this article discusses the early warning symptoms of pancreatic cancer to look out for.

Early warning signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer   to note

1. Stomach or back pain
Chronic back or abdominal pain, without any obvious reason, is usually observed in a person suffering from pancreatic cancer. This pain is caused as a result of the large pancreatic mass pressing on the nerves. Stomach pain is also a result of this health issue, especially after a meal, as the pancreatic tumors might put pressure on the surrounding organs.

2. Jaundice
Jaundice is one of the main early warning symptoms of pancreatic cancer. It is a health condition in which your skin and eyes start becoming yellow. It is a result of the buildup of bilirubin, a component present in bile. This occurs when the common bile ducts get blocked, as bile cannot reach the intestines.

Cancer that starts at the head of the pancreas is near the common bile duct. Hence, when it applies pressure on the duct, it results in jaundice. However, cancer that begins in the tail or body of the pancreas does not impact the bile duct in its early stages, but it does so when spread throughout the organ. Once the cancer spreads outwards, it might affect the liver, which can also cause jaundice.

3. Light-colored or greasy stools, dark urine, and itchy skin
Some more skin indications of an underlying disease accompany jaundice in the case of pancreatic cancer. These include greasy or light-colored stools, itchy skin, and dark urine.

4. Bloating
As the tumor in the pancreas can press on your stomach, people with this condition might feel full earlier than normal. There might also be an uncomfortable swelling in the abdomen without having eaten too much.

5. Nausea and vomiting
Depending on its location, pancreatic cancer can apply pressure on the far end of the stomach, blocking it partially and restricting the flow of food. This can result in the person feeling nauseous and leads to vomiting.

6. Blood clots
An important tip to realize that a person might be suffering from pancreatic cancer is the presence of a blood clot in a large vein, especially in the leg. This health condition is known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Symptoms of DVT are redness, warmth, and swelling in the affected leg. A part of this clot can also break and move to the lungs through the bloodstream. This can further cause difficulty in breathing. Such a blood clot in the lungs is known as pulmonary embolism (PE).