Does pancreatic cancer cause bloody stools?

Written by Yan Chun
Oncology
Updated on February 13, 2025
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Patients with pancreatic cancer may exhibit clinical symptoms of bloody stools, and the possible causes are as follows: First, the lesion of pancreatic cancer invades organs and tissues such as the gastrointestinal tract, causing damage to the mucous membranes, which clinically results in bloody stools. Second, if the pancreatic cancer metastasizes to the liver, liver function is impaired. Some patients may develop hyperactive splenic function, leading to a decline in platelet counts. When platelet levels drop to a certain extent, spontaneous visceral bleeding can occur, which may also manifest as bloody stools clinically. Third, in the late stages of pancreatic cancer, the disease may cause metastasis to multiple organs, leading to the complication of disseminated intravascular coagulation. This results in impaired coagulation function, making gastrointestinal bleeding likely, which is also clinically manifested as bloody stools.

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Written by Yan Chun
Oncology
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What are the signs of pancreatic cancer?

Pancreatic cancer is a type of malignant tumor of the digestive tract that is difficult to detect in its early stages. The signs of pancreatic cancer mainly include the following: First, among people with diabetes, if there is a sudden occurrence of uncontrollable blood sugar levels, unexplained general fatigue, abdominal pain, decreased appetite, or even jaundice, one should highly suspect the possibility of pancreatic cancer. Second, individuals with a family history of cancer who recently experience unexplained symptoms related to the digestive tract should also be alert to the possibility of pancreatic cancer. Third, some patients may experience unexplained rapid weight loss accompanied by significant jaundice, which should also be considered as potentially indicating pancreatic cancer.

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Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
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Is pancreatic cancer contagious?

Pancreatic cancer, like other malignant tumors, is not contagious. Therefore, in clinical settings, including patients' families and accompanying healthcare staff often ask doctors if they might catch the disease while interacting with cancer patients. It is important to educate that malignant tumors, including pancreatic cancer, are not contagious. Contagious diseases refer to chronic conditions like hepatitis B, hepatitis C, tuberculosis, AIDS, etc., which can spread through contact with bodily fluids or blood of the affected individuals. However, malignant tumors are not infectious.

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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 Zhou Zi Hua
Oncology
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Reasons for the low resection rate of pancreatic cancer

The resection rate for pancreatic cancer is relatively low because the pancreas is located behind the peritoneum in a deep position. In the early stages of pancreatic cancer, there are often no specific clinical symptoms. Therefore, by the time pancreatic cancer is detected in patients, it is usually already in the advanced stages. The pancreas is surrounded by blood vessels and nerves. Therefore, if it is found in the late stage, the surgical difficulty is very high, making it difficult to remove surgically, which is why the surgical resection rate for pancreatic cancer is low.

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Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
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What should I do if I can't stop vomiting due to pancreatic cancer?

Firstly, we need to ascertain the cause of the vomiting and can provide gastric protection and antiemetic treatment accordingly. If the vomiting is due to biliary obstruction caused by pancreatic cancer, resulting in severe jaundice and intense vomiting, in such cases, we can also place a stent surgically to drain the bile. The jaundice might be relieved afterwards, and accordingly, the vomiting symptoms might also be alleviated. Another aspect is, if the vomiting is caused by the tumor itself due to pancreatic cancer, we need to employ chemotherapy or some targeted or antiangiogenic treatments to control the tumor itself, and only then might the symptoms of vomiting be relieved.