What to do about pancreatic cancer pain?

Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
Updated on September 10, 2024
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Pancreatic cancer pain is common in clinical practice, with some patients presenting with abdominal pain as their initial symptom. Pain management can be symptomatic, using analgesics for relief. For mild pain, tramadol can be chosen for pain relief. For severe pain, opioid analgesics such as morphine sustained-release tablets, oxycodone sustained-release tablets, or morphine tablets can be used for pain relief. These are merely symptomatic treatments. The fundamental approach involves surgical or oncological treatments like chemotherapy or radiotherapy to treat pancreatic cancer. Only when the tumor is controlled will the symptoms of pain be alleviated.

Other Voices

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Written by Yan Chun
Oncology
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Early symptoms and signs of pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer is a malignant tumor of the digestive system and does not have a high clinical incidence rate. Early symptoms of pancreatic cancer are not typical; some patients experience abdominal pain, primarily a persistent episodic pain that may radiate to the shoulder and back. Additionally, early-stage pancreatic head cancer patients may exhibit jaundice, often caused by obstructive jaundice due to tumor compression. Besides this, patients may also have clay-colored stools or urine the color of strong tea. Beyond these symptoms, early-stage patients exhibit no other signs. When typical clinical manifestations occur, they are generally indicative of mid to late-stage pancreatic cancer. Precursors to pancreatic cancer include persistent hidden pain in the shoulder or a stiff pain in the back. This continuous pain, often caused by the invasion of the abdominal nervous plexus, results in radiating pain.

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Written by Wu Hai Wu
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How to deal with lower limb edema in advanced pancreatic cancer?

In late-stage pancreatic cancer, bilateral lower extremity edema should be considered possibly due to hypoalbuminemia, which leads to edema in both legs. It is also possible that cancer emboli in late-stage pancreatic cancer block the venous system, causing impaired venous return and resulting in bilateral lower extremity edema. To determine the specific cause, it is necessary to complete ultrasonographic examinations of the blood vessels in the lower limbs, as well as liver function tests, complete blood count, and others. After clarifying the diagnosis, appropriate treatment measures should be taken based on the different causes. For example, if the edema is caused by hypoalbuminemia, active supplementation with albumin and diuretics, among other treatments, is required. (Note: The use of medications should be carried out under the guidance of a professional doctor.)

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Written by Cui Fang Bo
Oncology
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What are the abnormalities in blood indicators for pancreatic cancer?

Blood markers for pancreatic cancer often show multiple abnormalities. Pancreatic cancer itself can lead to an increase in related tumor markers. The two most common markers are carcinoembryonic antigen and carbohydrate antigen 19-9, especially carbohydrate antigen 19-9, which has a certain specificity. If pancreatic cancer progresses further, leading to compression of the biliary system, corresponding jaundice indicators can increase. This includes an increase in total bilirubin and direct bilirubin, as well as alkaline phosphatase and gamma-GTP. The most common metastasis site for pancreatic cancer is the liver, and after liver metastasis occurs, corresponding liver transaminases can increase.

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Written by Sun Ming Yue
Medical Oncology
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Classification of the Malignancy of Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer can also be described as a malignant tumor occurring in the pancreas, generally with a high malignancy level, resulting in a higher probability of patient death. To understand the classification of pancreatic cancer, it can be categorized based on the location of occurrence within the pancreas and the pathological type. Based on the location of occurrence, pancreatic cancer can generally be divided into cancers of the pancreatic head, body, tail, and entire pancreas. According to the pathological types of pancreatic cancer, it can be classified into ductal adenocarcinoma, and also some special types of ductal-origin cancers, which generally include pleomorphic carcinoma, mucinous carcinoma, adenosquamous carcinoma, mucinous cystadenocarcinoma, and signet ring cell carcinoma, among others.

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What causes pancreatic cancer?

Pancreatic cancer is a malignant tumor of the digestive system whose incidence has gradually increased in recent years. The exact cause of pancreatic cancer is still unclear, but there are several factors that can increase the incidence of pancreatic cancer: 1. Age factor: Statistical data shows that the incidence of pancreatic cancer increases with age. 2. Dietary factors: Clinical research data confirms that some poor eating habits, such as consuming too much high-fat and animal protein, can significantly increase the incidence of pancreatic cancer. 3. Unhealthy lifestyle habits: People who smoke heavily and drink alcohol over a long period have a significantly higher incidence of pancreatic cancer compared to the general population. 4. Other benign pancreatic diseases, such as diabetes: Statistical data indicates that among diabetic patients, especially those with Type 2 diabetes, there is a slight increase in the incidence of pancreatic cancer.