Signs That Pancreatic Cancer Has Spread

Early symptoms of pancreatic cancer are often subtle or nonexistent. By the time symptoms present themselves, it is possible that the cancer has already spread outside the pancreas or grown to a large size. This makes it particularly challenging for pancreatic cancer to be detected and diagnosed at early stages. As pancreatic cancer spreads, symptoms can become more pronounced and varied, depending on where the cancer has spread to. Recognizing the signs that pancreatic cancer has spread can be essential for timely medical intervention and treatment.

Many symptoms of pancreatic cancer can present themselves at any stage. They may appear before or after the cancer has already spread. These are a few of the most common symptoms of pancreatic cancer.

Related: Pancreatic Cancer Symptoms

Jaundice

Jaundice is a condition that causes your skin and the whites of your eyes to turn yellow. It is a common sign that pancreatic cancer has spread, although it can be observed at any stage of the disease. However, jaundice is also a common symptom of many other liver and gallbladder diseases.

Jaundice is caused by the buildup of bilirubin, a yellowish pigment produced during the natural breakdown of red blood cells. It is removed from the bloodstream by the liver and excreted into bile, a digestive fluid produced by the liver. Under normal circumstances, bile travels through the common bile duct into the intestines and eventually leaves the body in stool and urine.

However, when a pancreatic tumor blocks the common bile duct, it prevents bile from draining into the small intestine. This is most common with cancer that starts at the head of the pancreas which is near the common bile duct. This causes bilirubin to build up in the bloodstream, causing the skin and the whites of your eyes to turn yellow.

As excess bilirubin is filtered by the kidneys, you may also notice dark-coloured urine. As a result of the reduced bile pigments in the digestive tract, you may also produce clay-colored stools.

Unexplained weight loss

Pancreatic tumors can interfere with digestive enzyme production, leading to reduced nutrient absorption and appetite. This can result in unexplained weight loss without any changes to your diet or exercise. Weight loss has been reported to occur in approximately 70–80% of pancreatic cancer patients and over a third of the patients have reported loss of more than 10% of their initial body weight.

Appetite loss and digestion-related symptoms

Pancreatic tumors, especially those that have grown or spread, can compress the stomach and cause nausea, vomiting and bloating. When tumors block your digestive tract, it can also lead to discomfort and the sensation of feeling full after eating only small amounts of food. This can in turn contribute to unintentional weight loss.

Abdominal pain

Pancreatic cancer can cause recurrent abdominal or back pain. As the pancreatic tumor grows larger, it can press on neighboring organs and cause pain. It could also be a sign that pancreatic cancer has spread; as the cancer starts to spread to the nerves surrounding the pancreas, it can often cause back pain.

When pancreatic cancer spreads to the liver

The liver is one of the most common organs that pancreatic cancer can spread to. You might experience these symptoms when pancreatic cancer spreads to the liver or within the abdomen:

• Abdominal pain
• Poor appetite and weight loss
• Ascites (swelling in the abdomen)
• Jaundice
• Palpable mass under right rib cage: When pancreatic cancer spreads to the liver, it may cause enlargement of the liver. This may be observed on imaging tests and sometimes even felt as a mass under the right rib cage in physical examinations.

When pancreatic cancer spreads to the lungs

When pancreatic cancer spreads to the lungs, you might experience these symptoms:

• Persistent cough
• Difficulty breathing
• Chest infections
• Coughing up blood
• Pleural effusion (abnormal accumulation of fluid around the lungs)

When pancreatic cancer spreads to the bone

When pancreatic cancer spreads to the bone, you might experience these symptoms:

• Persistent or worsening back pain
• Continuous pain from the breakdown of bone
• Brittle bones that break easily
• Low blood count
• Increased blood calcium levels
• Spinal cord compression: Pancreatic cancer that has spread to the spinal bones can cause pressure on the spinal cord. This may in turn lead to numbness, paralysis, incontinence (loss of bowel and bladder control) or weakness in the legs. If you do experience these symptoms, it is crucial to seek immediate medical attention.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms and are worried that it might be pancreatic cancer, it is best to consult a medical professional. Even if pancreatic cancer is not the cause, they may reflect some other underlying medical condition that requires attention.