Pancreatic Cancer: Look For These Signs Now

Diarrhea And Constipation

Diarrhea and constipation are common symptoms that manifest in individuals who have pancreatic cancer. The tumor in the pancreas can grow near the intestines and cause a partial blockage in the small intestine. A blockage in the small intestine makes it difficult for food to move through the lower digestive tract in a timely manner. When food stays in the lower gastrointestinal tract for too long, too much fluid is absorbed. When too much fluid is absorbed, the patient will experience constipation or very hard and painful stools. On the other hand, a pancreatic tumor can block the pancreatic duct that allows the pancreatic enzymes to drain into the small intestine. The pancreatic enzymes are responsible for breaking down proteins, carbohydrates, and fats in the food. If any of these nutrient sources are not broken down properly, they cannot be absorbed by the small intestine. Undigested substances tend to move through the lower digestive tract too quickly. This rapid movement does not allow the large intestine to absorb fluid from the food, resulting in watery stools or diarrhea.

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Indigestion

Indigestion occurs when the stomach or gastric acid rises into the esophagus from the stomach and causes a burning or otherwise painful sensation. Pancreatic cancer patients may exhibit indigestion as a symptom of their tumor. When the pancreatic tumor causes problems with the intestinal absorption of nutrients, the brain detects a problem with digestion. The natural response to this problem is an increase in the production of gastric acid by the stomach. An excess amount of stomach acid can easily result in indigestion. In addition, the pancreatic tumor may grow around the lower part of the stomach and cause food to not move into the small intestine when it should. The stomach will secrete more gastric juices in an attempt to digest the food further so it will move into the small intestine. Excess stomach acid due to this mechanism also commonly causes indigestion.