Pancreatic Cancer Awareness
Pancreatic cancer occurs when healthy cells in the pancreas stop working correctly and begin to multiply and grow in an uncontrollable and disruptive manner. The pancreas is an organ situated behind the stomach and is responsible for producing enzymes that aid in digestion and is also responsible for producing insulin and glucagon (needed to maintain normal blood sugar levels in the blood).
It is usually very hard to detect the signs and symptoms of Pancreatic Cancer in its early stages. The symptoms are seen and detected once a tumour has begun to grow and disrupt other functions in the body.
Some of the signs may include and are not limited to:
- yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes
- pain in the upper abdomen or upper back
- fatty stools (called steatorrhea) that are light coloured, bulky and float in the toilet
- unexplained weight loss
- loss of appetite
- fatigue
- nausea and vomiting
- indigestion
- feeling full after a small meal
- bloating
- gas
- diarrhoea or constipation
- itching
- dark urine
- fever and shivering
- swelling of the legs
See your doctor if you have any of these signs or symptoms.
Source: Canadian Cancer Society
