Until now, 21 symptoms related to the disease were known. This finding is expected to aid early diagnosis.
Two new symptoms are linked to pancreatic cancer, following recent research in the UK. So far 21 symptoms are known but thirst and dark color in the urine are added. This is expected to help detect the disease early.
“Cancer is difficult to identify because many of the symptoms are not present in the early stages of the disease and only arrive once the tumors begin to have effects on the body. The signs of aggressive cancer can also vary depending on the precise location of the tumors, making the diagnosis a frustrating test, ”says El Español.
Weigh Liao, a scientist at the University of Oxford who participated in the study pointed out that the possibility that a cancer is detected early helps to treat it in time. “It is possible to diagnose patients when they see their GP, but both these patients and these doctors need to be attentive to the symptoms associated with this cancer,” he said.
These symptoms could appear up to a year before diagnosis. Others known so far are: yellowing of the skin, bleeding in the stomach or intestines, swallowing problems, diarrhea, change in bowel habits, vomiting, indigestion, abdominal mass, abdominal pain, weight loss, constipation, fat in the stool, abdominal bloating, nausea, flatulence, heartburn, fever, tiredness, loss of appetite, itching and pain in the back.
“This research can help GPs and their patients learn more about the signs of pancreatic cancer. It’s very important that people talk to their GP if they notice these symptoms, ”said Pippa Corrie, Pippa Corrie, Chair of Pancreas Workflow for the Upper Gastrointestinal System Group!
