The pancreas is one of those organs that we neither think much about nor really know exactly what it does for us on a daily basis. These are just two of the reasons that the signs of pancreas problems can slip by unnoticed or attributed to a different illness or condition. Considering that this is the norm, it doesn’t come as much of a shock that pancreatic cancer has such a low survival rate and that problems like pancreatitis can be so difficult to deal with.
“Part of the reason survival rates are so low is that identifying pancreatic cancer early is difficult,” said Andrew Hendifar, M.D., the medical director of pancreatic cancer at the Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Center in Los Angeles. Early detection is also tough when it comes to non-cancer pancreas problems, added Ted Epperly, M.D., a family medicine physician and the president and CEO of Full Circle Health, a teaching health center in Idaho.
Meet the experts: Andrew Hendifar, M.D., the medical director of pancreatic cancer at the Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Center in Los Angeles; Ted Epperly, M.D., a family medicine physician and the president and CEO of Full Circle Health.
Tucked deep in your abdomen, your pancreas is a long, flat organ that produces enzymes and hormones that aid in digestion and blood sugar regulation, according to the Cleveland Clinic. While symptoms of pancreas issues can be persnickety, both Dr. Epperly and Dr. Hendifar say there are a handful of warning signs that warrant a call to your doctor. Here are some of the biggest ones.
Pale, floating stool
If you notice your stool is light colored and floating, that’s a sign of poor nutrient absorption because of a pancreas malfunction. “The enzymes your pancreas produces help you digest fats in your diet,” Dr. Hendifar explained. Along with breaking down fats, your pancreas helps your body absorb fat-soluble vitamins like A, E, and K, he said.
When pancreatic disease messes with your organ’s ability to properly manufacture those enzymes, the result is feces that looks paler and is less dense. You may also notice your poop is oily or greasy. “The toilet water will have a film that looks like oil,” Dr. Hendifar said. That’s the dietary fat your body failed to break down, he explained.
If you notice your poop looks funky now and then, that’s no reason to freak out. But if all or most of your bowel movements have these characteristics, let your doctor know.
Radiating back pain
Abdominal pain is one of the most common symptoms of both pancreatic cancer and acute pancreatitis, which is a type of deadly inflammation, Dr. Hendifar said. But that pain manifests in different ways depending on the underlying condition.
If the pain seems to start in your middle before “radiating” into your mid or lower back—and if it lingers for weeks—that may be a sign of pancreatic cancer, Dr. Epperly said. Also, if you’ve already seen your doctor and he or she has prescribed a type of drug called a proton-pump inhibitor—such as omeprazole (Prilosec) or esomeprazole (Nexium)—let your doc know if your symptoms don’t improve. Dr. Hendifar said it’s common for doctors to mistake pancreatic cancer–triggered pain for reflux or other GI issues, many of which a proton-pump inhibitor should help resolve.
On the other hand, if the pain comes on suddenly and is intense and focused in the middle of your abdomen, that’s the type associated with acute pancreatitis (sudden, temporary inflammation of the pancreas), Dr. Epperly said.
Still, it’s important to remember that a lot of health issues—some serious, but many mild—can cause stomach aches or pain, Dr. Hendifar added. But if either of the descriptions above sound familiar and you haven’t found a way to get relief, it’s best to give your doctor a call.
An unexpected diabetes diagnosis
Your pancreas produces hormones like insulin and glucagon that help maintain healthy levels of sugar in your bloodstream. When the pancreas is imperiled, it’s common for sufferers to develop type 2 diabetes, Dr. Hendifar said, because the production of these hormones will be thrown out of whack. If your weight is under control and you eat a healthy diet, a new diabetes diagnosis should lead to a closer examination of your pancreas.
The same holds for a diabetes sufferer who suddenly finds her disease harder to manage, even if she is doing all the right things. “Those sudden changes in diabetes status without an obvious explanation, those are things we see associated with pancreatic cancer,” Dr. Hendifar said.
Nausea from high-fat foods
Nausea and vomiting are symptoms to watch out for—particularly if you’ve been eating fatty foods, Dr. Hendifar said. Again, because your pancreas produces enzymes that help your digestive system break down fat, diseases that mess with your pancreas tend to disrupt your body’s fat-digesting capabilities, which leads to nausea. “Hamburgers are often nausea triggers, and so are avocados and nuts, which are all high in fat,” Dr. Hendifar added. “Pizza is another one that’s really tough for patients with a compromised pancreas.” Dr. Epperly said pancreatitis is more likely than pancreatic cancer to lead to sudden vomiting and nausea.
Rapid weight loss
It’s tempting to credit your new diet, especially if you’re actively trying to lose weight. But if you’re shedding weight—and especially if you’re experiencing the radiating pain described above—that weight loss could be due to the digestive issues associated with pancreatic cancer or disease, Dr. Hendifar said. A recent study in Clinical and Translational Gastroenterology found that among people who had acute pancreatitis, 24% had lost over 10% of their body weight a year after their illness.
Thyroid issues and some other health conditions can also cause rapid or unexplained weight loss. In any case, you should see someone.
—Additional reporting by the Editors of Prevention
This story was originally published in 2016 but has since been updated.
Source link
