Pancreas refers to an endocrine gland in the body that is responsible for the overall functioning of the digestive system. This gland is located in the abdomen, right behind the stomach. One of its important functions is the production of hormones, such as glucagon, insulin, and pancreatic polypeptide.
If the pancreatic cells multiply, it will develop into a mass, and this is when pancreatic cancer will take place. The cancer cells can invade some other parts in your body and this is when the symptoms will start to develop.
Here are 10 common signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer.
1. Pain
Pain is the most common sign of pancreatic cancer. When you have pancreatic cancer, you will feel pain at the upper abdomen area that seems to radiate towards the back. The pain tends to get worse at night and the intensity will gradually increase until it becomes so severe. Some patients have reported that the pain can be slightly relieved if they lean their body forward.
Pancreatic cancer will not show a lot of symptoms during its early stage. The cancer is usually detected when the patient requires emergency care. It was found that 67% of patients who have pancreatic cancer tend to suffer from abdominal pain. Sometimes, this symptom is accompanied by jaundice.
