Question 1

i'm just wondering, if you catch pancreatic cancer in a early stage that shows no symptoms could it be fixed?

Accepted Answer

Possibly: If a biopsy is done at an early point and treatment initiated very early the outcome is obviously improved.

Question 2

symptoms of pancreatic cancer?

Accepted Answer

Depends on location: Pancreas is a fish-shaped organ with its head tucked  into the duodenum (c-shaped beginning of small intestine coming off stomach). If tumor blocks bile duct or panc duct, causes abdominal pain, pancreatitis, jaundice. If it's in tail, will cause no symtptoms till very large or spread to other areas. Most common: weight loss, mental status change such as new onset depression.

Question 3

are the symptoms of pancreatic cancer bad?

Accepted Answer

Can be: Pancreatic cancer symptoms depend on the extent of the cancer and can range form minimal to very significant in intensity. Typical symptoms include jaundice, abdomen pain (can be severe), bowel obstruction, weight loss, new-onset diabetes, depression, fatigue to name a few.

Question 4

does pancreatic cancer usually cause many symptoms?

Accepted Answer

Yup...: Commonly yellow skin; +/- belly pain; weight loss; new onset diabetes and depression. Pancreas tail makes hormones: insulin, gastrin, glucagon - these cause symptoms.  Head/body make digestive juice, and engulf the duct draining the liver into the gut. This is a very nasty cancer.

Question 5

what is an accurate way to find pancreatic cancer early?

Accepted Answer

No perfect test: There is no perfect test at present.  The existing tests (ct, mri, eus) are all much more useful when the tumor measures greater than 1 cm.  Finding a good test for patients with very early pancreatic cancer is a topic of ongoing research across the country.

Question 6

my pancreatic cancer: causes, & symptoms, as well as cure?

Accepted Answer

Unsure of question!: Do YOU have pancreas cancer?  That is very rare in someone in their 30s.  No one knows what causes pancreas cancer.  Symptoms are usually upper mid-abdominal pain near the breast bone, often after eating going into the back, weight loss, loss of appetite, change in taste/smell sensation, blood clot in leg, depression.  Early pancreas cancer's best chance for cure is surgery.

Question 7

i'm wondering why are there no obvious symptoms with pancreatic cancer?

Accepted Answer

Vague symptoms: Weight loss, bloating, early satiety are vague symptoms and only later when profound weight loss, and back pain or jaundice occur does it come to attention.

Question 8

what causes pancreatic cancer? what are the symptoms and how is it treated?

Accepted Answer

Probably viral: Pancreatic Ca is a lethal disease of probable viral origin.  The tumor begins 15-20 yrs before a clinical lesion can be defined.  It appears in the head where painless jaundice is seen, in the body with symptoms of invasion of celiac plexus and tail with pseudo varices of vasa brevia.  Even with surgery for 10% of patients the survival here is 10%.  Chemo with gemzar (gemcitabine) and Abraxane used.

Question 9

what is an accurate way to find pancreatic cancer early, if that's possible?

Accepted Answer

Pancreas cancer is: Quite alarming because it seems to be increasing, we do not know the cause, and it commonly presents late.  There are lesion of the pancreastic duct that warrant surveillance, but for most of us, there are not indications to get endoscopy, and even suspicious washings are not reliable indicators of early cancer.  So there is not a blood test, endoscopy, or imaging test to find it early.

Question 10

what is an accurate way to find pancreatic cancer early; what test can be done?

Accepted Answer

Biopsy: Unfortunately there are no reliable blood tests for early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.  Fine needle aspirate and/or biospy is the only sure way to make a diagnsis and this modality can not be used for screening.

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Doctor answers about:

What are the early symptoms of pancreatic cancer

A member asked:

I'm just wondering, if you catch pancreatic cancer in a early stage that shows no symptoms could it be fixed?

A member asked:

Symptoms of pancreatic cancer?

A member asked:

Are the symptoms of pancreatic cancer bad?

A member asked:

Does pancreatic cancer usually cause many symptoms?

A member asked:

What is an accurate way to find pancreatic cancer early?

A member asked:

My pancreatic cancer: causes, & symptoms, as well as cure?

A member asked:

I'm wondering why are there no obvious symptoms with pancreatic cancer?

A member asked:

What causes pancreatic cancer? what are the symptoms and how is it treated?

A member asked:

What is an accurate way to find pancreatic cancer early, if that's possible?

A member asked:

What is an accurate way to find pancreatic cancer early; what test can be done?

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