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Thanks. I need to make an appointment. Really, Thanks for the concern and help.
Barb
August 31, 2011 - 9:12amThis Comment
Have had several family members with other cancers, but no pancreatic. It's a little embarassing but I have been having very light colored stools and it worries me. Thanks for your answers.
Barb
August 29, 2011 - 8:33pmThis Comment
Hi Barb,
That's nothing to be embarrassed about-- it's actually great that you noticed the change in stool color since most people pay no mind to these important changes. Please inform your doctor so that he can best determine what could be the cause.
Rosa
August 30, 2011 - 8:49amThis Comment
Hi craftybarb,
Thanks for your question. With Pancreatic Cancer, although not really preventable, you can make some changes in your lifestyle to help decrease your risk factors.
Risk Factors include:
Age: 40 or older
Sex: male
Smoking and using smokeless tobacco (eg, chewing tobacco) *¹
Diabetes
Chronic pancreatitis , hereditary pancreatitis, family nonpolyposis colon cancer syndrome
Family or personal history of certain types of colon polyps or colon cancer
Family history of pancreatic cancer (especially in Ashkenazi Jews with BRCA2 [breast cancer associated]) gene
High-fat diet
Symptoms:
Pancreatic cancer does not cause symptoms in its early stages. The cancer may grow for some time before it causes symptoms. When symptoms do appear, they may be very vague. In many cases, the cancer has spread outside the pancreas by the time it is discovered.
Symptoms will vary depending on the location and size of the tumor. Symptoms include:
Nausea
Loss of appetite
Unexplained weight loss
Pain—in the upper abdomen, sometimes spreading to the back (a result of the cancer growing and spreading)
Jaundice —yellowness of skin and whites of the eyes; dark urine (if the tumor blocks the common bile duct); tan stool or stool that floats to the top of the bowl.
Weakness, dizziness, chills, muscle spasms, diarrhea (especially if the cancer involves the islet cells that make insulin and other hormones)
These symptoms may also be caused by other, less serious health conditions. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should see a doctor.
For more info, please visit our Pancreatic Cancer page: https://www.empowher.com/condition/pancreatic-cancer/symptoms
Hope this helps,
Rosa
August 22, 2011 - 7:11amThis Comment
Thank you so much for taking the time to respond to my inquiry, I am sure you are a very caring nurse. The information is useful and I will be talking to my doctor about it. Is there any specific testing that I should ask my doctor to perform?
Barb
August 23, 2011 - 4:27pmThis Comment
Hi Barb,
You are very welcome and thank you for the kind words.
Do you have a family history of Pancreatic Cancer or any other reason to believe you may be at risk?
If so, The doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history. A physical exam may be done. The doctor may order blood and urine tests, as well as check for hidden blood in bowel movements.
Tests may include:
Upper GI series—a series of x-rays of the upper digestive system taken after drinking a barium solution
CT scan —a type of x-ray that uses a computer to make pictures of structures inside the abdomen
MRI scan —a test that uses magnetic waves to make pictures of structures inside the abdomen
Ultrasonography—a test that uses sound waves to find tumors
Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) —a type of x-ray that shows the pancreatic ductal system after dye has been sent through a tube down the throat and into the pancreas
PTC—a type of x-ray test that shows blockages in the bile ducts of the liver
Angiography —x-rays of blood vessels taken after an injection of dye that makes the blood vessels show up on the x-rays
Biopsy —removal of a sample of pancreatic tissue to test for cancer cells
Best Wishes,
August 24, 2011 - 9:44am-Rosa
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