Yellow skin and eyes, Abdominal pain that exudes through your back, Sudden weight loss and loss of appetite, Depression.
This are some surefire pancreas cancer symptoms.
Unfortunately, by the time you discover these signs and symptoms your cancer most likely has spread to other regions of your body and it is too late to do anything about it.
Pancreatic cancer is the number one deadliest cancers today.
Even with early detection, the survival rate is very slim.
Researchers and scientists are working diligently to find a cure for pancreatic cancer, but a solution is a long way off.
Because the signs and symptoms are so subtle, by the time you start to not feel like yourself, the cancer most likely has spread.
At the first sign of these symptoms, make an appointment to see your physician.
A gamut of tests will be run to determine what is causing your symptoms.
To test for pancreatic cancer, an ultrasound or MRI will be conducted to search for the presence of any masses or spots on your pancreas (or other organs that the cancer could have spread to).
Another procedure used in testing for pancreatic cancer is a dye injected into your body that highlights the bile ducts in your pancreas to see if there are any spots radiating from that area.
If a mass is discovered, a biopsy will be done to check for malignancy.
Once you have received a confirmation of pancreatic cancer, it is now up to your team of physicians to determine how advanced and in what stage your cancer is.
This can be done with a bone scan, blood test, x-ray, laparoscopy, CT scan or MRI.
Your cancer will be rated in 4 different stages.
Stage I is the best case scenario and a better chance at survival.
Stage IV is the worst stage to be in and means that a battle fought will most likely not be won.
No matter what stage of pancreatic cancer you are diagnosed with, one thing is for certain; you will be facing an uphill battle.
Pancreatic cancer is such a difficult disease to fight and win.
Radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy will be administered once the removal of the diseased part of your pancreas has been done.
If your oncologist finds that the cancer has spread past your pancreas to other parts of your body, he most likely will not remove the pancreas at all since the removal of the organ is to keep it from spreading to other regions in your body.
Lesson learned; at the first sign of pancreas cancer symptoms, walk, don't run to go and see your physician to discuss the best course of treatment for you.