Pancreatic diseases often take time to appear but they are serious. Also, you need to be very attentive to certain symptoms.
The pancreas is a gland located behind the stomach in the upper abdomen. It produces enzymes necessary for digestion and hormones, including insulin and glucagon, essential for regulating glucose (blood sugar levels). Three main diseases can affect the pancreas: acute pancreatitis, chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. Dr Alice Boilève, medical oncologist specializing in digestive cancers at the Gustave Roussy Institute, lists the signs indicating pancreatic dysfunction.
Severe pain in the upper abdomen, radiating to the back, may indicate acute pancreatitis. This sudden inflammation of the pancreas often resolves spontaneously. The pain occurs after a rich meal and forces the patient to lean forward. The diagnosis is based on an elevation of a blood marker (lipase), associated with typical pain and sometimes with signs visible on a CT scan. Hospitalization may be necessary. Acute pancreatitis can also cause nausea and vomiting. More seriously, “pancreatitis pain should not rule out pancreatic cancer, particularly if the mass is located at the head of the pancreas,” explains Dr. Alice Boilève. A tumor blocking the Wirsung duct can lead to pancreatitis.
Difficulty digesting, combined with loss of appetite and greasy, smelly diarrhea, can signal chronic pancreatitis. “To the extent that the pancreas participates in the digestion of food, damage to the pancreas can lead to malabsorption of food, particularly fats,” argues Dr. Boilève. Chronic pancreatitis, a persistent inflammation of the pancreas, causes irreversible damage and progressive destruction of its structure and function. “Difficulty digesting and greasy, smelly diarrhea can also be indicative of cancer,” she adds.
Signs of pancreatic cancer usually appear at an advanced stage of the disease. Some patients have few or no symptoms initially. Warning signs are: significant fatigue, unexplained weight loss and jaundice. Yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes is due to compression of the common bile duct by the tumor, preventing the evacuation of bile from the liver to the intestine.
Persistent hyperglycemia may also indicate pancreatic dysfunction. The pancreas regulates blood sugar, and an increase in blood sugar can indicate a pancreatic problem or diabetes. If a symptom persists and the state of health deteriorates, it is crucial to consult a doctor for in-depth analyzes and examinations in order to identify and treat the cause quickly.
Thanks to Dr Alice Boilève, medical oncologist specializing in digestive cancers at the Gustave Roussy Institute