How to diagnose pancreatic cancer?
Pancreatic cancer begins in the tissues of your pancreas — an organ in your abdomen that lies behind the lower part of your stomach. Several types of growths can occur in the pancreas, including cancerous and noncancerous tumors.
Pancreatic cancer is seldom detected at its early stages when it's most curable. This is because it often doesn't cause symptoms until after it has spread to other organs.
Pancreatic cancer treatment options are chosen based on the extent of the cancer. Options may include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy or a combination of these.
Signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer often don't occur until the disease is advanced. They may include:
- Abdominal pain that radiates to your back
- Loss of appetite or unintended weight loss
- Yellowing of your skin and the whites of your eyes (jaundice)
- Light-colored stools
- Dark-colored urine
- Itchy skin
- Blood clots
- Fatigue
When to see a doctor
See your doctor if you experience any unexplained symptoms that worry you.
Many other conditions can cause these symptoms, so your doctor may check for these conditions as well as for pancreatic cancer.
Causes
It's not clear what causes pancreatic cancer. Doctors have identified some factors that may increase the risk of this type of cancer, including smoking and having certain inherited gene mutations.
Risk factors include:
- Diabetes
- Pancreatitis
- Family history of pancreatic cancer
- Obesity
- Older age, as most people are diagnosed after age 65
Source:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pancreatic-cancer/symptoms-causes/syc-20355421
