Advertisement
7. Jaundice
Jaundice is another common pancreatic cancer symptom. In most cases, pancreatic tumors will develop at the head of the pancreas, as well as on its adjacent areas, where the bile duct merges with the pancreatic duct. As a result, the normal flow of bile fluid towards the small bowel will be obstructed. This will cause the bile to back-flow, which then leads to jaundice or the yellowing of the skin.
Sometimes, jaundice is accompanied by some other symptoms, such as loss of appetite and unrelenting itchiness of the skin. About 50% of patients with pancreatic cancer will develop jaundice. This symptom will occur due to the buildup of bilirubin, which is a byproduct of red blood cells.
Advertisement
