- [Presenter] You're tired a lot, your belly or back is
constantly bothering you, and the weight is just falling off, but not because you want it to. These symptoms might be
a reality for someone who is living with pancreatic cancer. In 2019, pancreatic cancer
was the third leading cause of cancer deaths in the US. 45,886 people lost their lives to it. The pancreas is a small,
hockey stick-shaped gland located behind the stomach, and it's essential for
digestion and maintaining the body's blood sugar levels. Mutations can cause pancreatic cells to multiply out of control,
which forms tumors. Pancreatic cancer is harder to detect and usually found at advanced stages. That's why it's important
to know the signs and to talk to your healthcare provider as soon as you notice
changes with your health. Here are six signs of pancreatic
cancer to watch out for. One, yellowing of the eyes and
skin, also known as jaundice, is often the first symptom
that people experience. It's caused by the buildup of bilirubin, a dark yellow brown
substance made in the liver. When pancreatic cancer
blocks the bile duct, it causes bilirubin to
build up and keeps it from getting to the intestines. Other indicators of
jaundice include dark urine, poop that is greasy or light
in color, and itchy skin. Two, pain in belly or back. Pancreatic tumors can become pretty large and can be quite painful. This type of cancer can also affect nerves around the pancreas and cause back pain. Three, unintended weight loss. Weight loss is another common symptom and people with pancreatic cancer will often have little to no appetite. Four, changes in blood sugar. It's rare, but some forms
of pancreatic cancer can destroy cells that make insulin. This can cause a person to pee a lot and feel hungry and thirsty. In other cases, it can lead
to changes in blood sugar that don't trigger any symptoms at all. However, blood tests can
detect these changes. Five, nausea and vomiting. When cancer tumors block the stomach, food can't get through. This leads to bad nausea
and vomiting after meals. Six, enlarged gallbladder or liver. Pancreatic cancer can
even block the bile duct and cause the gallbladder to get bigger. If it spreads, it can also
increase the size of the liver. Healthcare providers might be able to feel these changes during an exam, or they can spot them with imaging tests. You hear this time and time again, but it's important to remember, if you see something, say something. Talk to your provider
if you start noticing some of the symptoms mentioned. They can examine you and run
tests to rule things out. Waiting will only make things worse, or lessen the chances for
successful treatment or survival. Don't ignore the signs. Tell your provider right away
and get the help you need. (gentle music)
