What are the symptoms of pancreatic cancer?

Written by Yan Chun
Oncology
Updated on February 01, 2025
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Pancreatic cancer is a malignant tumor of the digestive system and its incidence has been increasing year by year. The symptoms of pancreatic cancer patients mainly include the following clinically: 1. Abdominal pain, which is a common manifestation in pancreatic cancer patients. It appears as intermittent pain in the early stages and as persistent severe abdominal pain in the middle and late stages. 2. Jaundice, especially common in patients with cancer of the head of the pancreas, tends to appear early. This jaundice is due to the compression of the bile duct by the tumor, often presenting as obstructive jaundice. Patients may also experience dark tea-colored urine and pale clay-colored stools. Additionally, pancreatic cancer patients may also experience symptoms like weight loss, fatigue, fever, and when the cancer metastasizes to other organs, symptoms related to the metastases may appear.

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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.

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Written by Sun Ming Yue
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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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Written by He Zong Quan
General Surgery
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Can acute pancreatitis turn into pancreatic cancer?

Acute pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer are two diseases that occur in the same organ, the pancreas. However, acute pancreatitis is entirely an inflammatory change, often caused by gallstones, alcohol consumption, binge eating, and hyperlipidemia, with some cases being idiopathic. Pancreatic cancer, on the other hand, is a tumorous lesion and is a malignant tumor that generally requires surgery. Many pancreatic cancer patients are already in the advanced stages when discovered, making the surgery difficult to perform. The prognosis for patients is also completely different. After the onset of acute pancreatitis and treatment, the pancreas recovers, the inflammation subsides, and it does not affect a person's lifespan. However, if pancreatic cancer is clearly diagnosed, the lifespan oftentimes does not extend beyond a few years.

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Written by Yan Chun
Oncology
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Can patients with advanced pancreatic cancer eat watermelon?

Patients with advanced pancreatic cancer can eat watermelon. This is because many patients with advanced pancreatic cancer experience liver metastasis. Cancerous tissues damage liver cells, leading to impaired liver function and abnormal glycogen metabolism. Many patients may experience episodes of hypoglycemia, and eating watermelon can help replenish blood sugar, which is beneficial for the patients. Additionally, many patients with advanced pancreatic cancer suffer from a decline in appetite, and watermelon can stimulate their appetite and increase their food intake, which is also beneficial for their recovery. Thirdly, watermelon has a certain diuretic effect. Since many patients with advanced pancreatic cancer also suffer from hypoproteinemia, they are prone to edema. Eating watermelon can promote an increase in urine output, thereby helping to alleviate edema.

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Written by Zhou Zi Hua
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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.