Oncological diseases are the deadliest today. Moreover, in most cases, the disease could be stopped if the symptoms were read and understood on time. But for obvious reasons, people ignore the seemingly slight discomfort, do not go for examination, and when they feel pain. And when the symptoms become too obvious, helping the patient is no longer possible.
Among the most common cancers, sixth place is the defeat of the pancreas. Moreover, it can be detected at an early stage quite rarely. Today we want to talk about what are the symptoms of pancreatic cancer in the early stages. Perhaps for someone this will be a chance to seek help in time.
general description
It is very important to have an idea of what kind of organ. The main functions are digestion and the production of hormones. We all know from childhood where we have a heart and a stomach. However, this tiny gland may be even more important in some ways.
Digestive function is the production of digestive enzymes, that is, special substances with the help of which the breakdown of proteins, fats and carbohydrates occurs. Without this, food simply cannot be absorbed. In addition, the gland produces hormones that are responsible for metabolic processes. This is insulin and glucagon, and another whole complex of substances responsible for the production of gastric juice.
Symptoms of pancreatic cancer in the early stages most often come down to typical manifestations of pancreatitis. That is, a person experiences discomfort after eating, takes painkillers or enzymes and calms down on this. The disease progresses and as a result becomes inoperable. Now the doctor, based on the state of the body, can offer chemistry or radiation therapy. This is not a treatment, but a means to stop the growth of a tumor.
Causes
In fact, today doctors continue to wonder why cancer cells begin to develop rapidly in the human body. What is it? This is not a foreign organism, not a bacterium or a virus, which is why such difficulties in treatment arise. Cancer is the cells of your body that are reborn under the influence of various factors. Typically, cells divide only to replace worn or dying precursors. But in the cancer cell the DNA is changed, it will share uncontrollably, and being immortal. And the cells created by her, too, do not die as they fulfill their function.
In essence, one task remains: to grow and multiply. As a result, the tumor fills one organ and penetrates the second, changing its structure. Moreover, such cells cannot perform the functions originally laid down in them. As a result, skipping the symptoms of pancreatic cancer in the early stages, a person slowly but surely goes to the destruction of the entire digestive process. A degenerating organ is not able to produce the necessary enzymes and hormones.
Why the pancreas is affected by cancer cells
We will not consider all the causes of the development of cancer, because there are too many of them. Let us dwell only on those that (according to doctors) lead to the development of a cancerous tumor in the pancreas.
- In the first place is smoking. Regular poisoning of the body with carcinogens, resins and other harmful compounds contained in cigarette smoke does not contribute to its healing. Add to this the high cost you pay for slowly destroying yourself. According to medical statistics, smokers are twice as likely to develop pancreatic cancer as non-smokers. It is also very important that quitting smoking sharply reduces the likelihood of its occurrence.
- In second place is age. The older a person becomes, the more harmful substances his body has accumulated. After 60 years, the likelihood of cancer is tripled.
- Human gender can also play a role. Doctors suggest that men are more likely to have pancreatic cancer than women. This can be explained by the high percentage of smokers among the strong half of humanity.
- Diseases of the pancreas. Problems such as pancreatitis cannot be ignored. The inflammatory process can become one of the predisposing factors.
- Features nutrition. Indirectly, this can also be considered as one of the reasons. If the diet is rich in fats and carbohydrates, then the load on iron increases significantly. Conversely, if the diet is rich in fruits and vegetables, then the risk is reduced.
Types of cancer
Symptoms of pancreatic cancer in the early stages will greatly depend on how the disease begins. There are a lot of species, and only the attending physician can figure it out. Based on the features of the anatomical concentration of the tumor, the main types are determined:
- Cancer of the head of the gland.
- Body.
- The tail.
Based on this, the doctor can already make certain predictions. However, in addition to this, the surgeon necessarily takes an analysis for histology. Now he will be able to determine the specific type of cells from which the cancer has developed. So in the medical book there are entries "adenocarcinoma", "insulinoma", "gastrinoma" and others.
Troubling signs
In order to consult a doctor in time and stop the development of the disease, it is very important to notice the symptoms of pancreatic cancer in the early stages. Diagnosis usually occurs much later, when metastases have already penetrated the lymph nodes. Therefore, each of us needs to be very careful about our health. If something bothers you, you need to undergo a thorough examination, and not let everything go by its own accord.
So, what are the symptoms of pancreatic cancer in the early stages? The signs of an ominous diagnosis are still very weak, but the first bell is pain. It is localized in the upper abdomen, under the stomach. Often gives in the back and can be of a zoster nature. With the growth of the tumor, the symptoms can only intensify, so you should not pull. The characteristic increase in pain when leaning forward. In parallel, thirst can intensify and heaviness appears in the right hypochondrium. Often you can observe diarrhea. The stool in this case is liquid and fetid.
Can not be ignored
How often regrets come to a person too late. When the card already has 3 or 4 stages, I want to rewind everything. Then, for sure, a person would not miss the symptoms of pancreatic cancer in the early stages. The first manifestations, in addition to pain, are also associated with weight loss. Weight loss is associated with impaired absorption of fats as a result of insufficient secretory function of the pancreas. If you note that you began to lose weight for no apparent reason, then you must immediately contact the clinic and take tests.
Laboratory diagnostics
What methods will help confirm or refute the symptoms of pancreatic cancer in the early stages? Ultrasound is the very first tool that will allow you to find changes in the tissues, however, usually patients undergo this procedure already in the late stages, to clarify the location of the tumor, and not for its diagnosis.
First of all, you need to pass a detailed blood test. With oncological diseases, hemoglobin most often falls and ESR increases. If the doctor sees such changes, then without hesitation sends to the oncologist for further examination.
Final diagnosis
Only when a person enters oncology can he undergo a full examination. Here, specialists are able to diagnose tumor processes. In the early stages, even the KLA works very well, it shows typical changes. Biochemistry shows bilirubinemia, as well as liver enzymes. The oncologist then identifies tumor markers that show tumor operability. In the early stages, markers are not detected.
Depending on the location of the cancer
How can the symptoms of pancreatic cancer in the early stages change? Forecasts with timely identification of the cause are very favorable. The survival rate is 96%. Of course, then you will have to undergo maintenance treatment all your life, but this is not the worst turn of events.
If the tumor is localized in the head area, most often patients note jaundice and skin itching, discoloration of urine. It is with this arrangement of the tumor that anorexia and vomiting are most often observed when trying to eat. The more the tumor grows, the more it compresses the duodenum and the lumen of the stomach.
Localization in the body or tail may be marked by episodes of bleeding. The clinical picture may resemble acute cholecystitis and pancreatitis. At later stages, bowel obstruction is possible, since the intestinal lumen narrows.
Degrees of disease
Before prescribing treatment, the doctor will definitely find out the degree of spread of the tumor and, based on this, make a diagnosis. The most favorable forecasts in the first stage. The size of the tumor is still small, it does not extend beyond the gland and affects only one of its departments (head, body or tail).
The second stage involves the spread of the tumor to organs that are located nearby. These are bile ducts or the duodenum. This is option 2A. Form 2B suggests the spread of the tumor to the nearest lymph nodes.
The third stage is already very serious. The tumor affects the stomach and spleen, large intestine, and approaches the large vessels and nerves. At the fourth stage, the process of metastasis begins for all organs and systems.
We told you the main symptoms of pancreatic cancer in the early stages and the degree to which its localization in the body is determined. Now briefly note the possibility of medical intervention in this process.
Treatment
Depends on the timeliness of treatment. If you managed to identify symptoms of pancreatic cancer in the early stages, treatment will be most effective. In this case, the doctor chooses from three options:
- Surgical intervention.
- Chemotherapy.
- Radiotherapy.
In the early stages, tumor removal and subsequent chemotherapy work best. But when it is distributed to the surrounding organs, the doctor most likely will not operate on the patient, because it is impossible to cut everything out. One can only hope that after a course of chemistry the tumor will shrink to such a size that it becomes operable.