The pancreas cancer practically no symptoms at the beginning, which makes early diagnosis difficult. When present, signs and symptoms may include abdominal pain, weight loss, jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), weakness, diarrhea, dizziness, anemia and Type 2 diabetes.
The symptoms of pancreatic cancer depend on where the tumor is. The most obvious signs are the lack of appetite, weight loss, diarrhea, weakness and dizziness.
When it reaches the head of the pancreas, the tumor jaundice due to biliary obstruction. With the evolution of cancer there may be back pain, which starts lightly and can get stronger over time.
The main function of the pancreas is to produce insulin, the hormone responsible for transporting glucose (sugar) from the blood into the cells to be transformed into energy. With the tumor, the pancreas fails to produce insulin, leading to increased blood glucose rates. This makes the type 2 diabetes a sign and also a direct consequence of pancreatic cancer.
The main causes of malignant tumors in the pancreas are cigarette smoking (can increase 3 times the chances of developing the disease), excessive fat consumption, alcoholic beverages, prolonged exposure to chemicals such as pesticides and solvents, chronic pancreatitis and Diabetes mellitus.
The endocrinologist is the specialist responsible for the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer.
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