Are There Early Symptoms of Pancreatic Cancer?
The average general health article on pancreatic cancer states flatly that there are no early symptoms of pancreatic cancer. People diagnosed with pancreatic cancer are typically already in advanced stage of the disease by the time it’s caught, and the typical prognosis is death within five years. With pancreatic cancer much on everyone’s mind due to the untimely death of Patrick Swayze, it seems like a good time to ask the question that’s on all of our minds: Are there any early warning signs of pancreatic cancer? The answer is yes, there are. But to understand these signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer, it’s important to understand where the pancreas is, and what it does. Located deep inside the abdomen, the pancreas is only 4 to 6 inches long and shaped like a tadpole. In the “tail” of the pancreas are cells that produce insulin, and tumors at this end are usually endocrine tumors. They are easier to diagnose, but are much rarer. At the other end, the “head” of the pancreas, are
