2 weeks Ago By [email protected] (Lizzie McAllister)
An NHS doctor has shared three symptoms of pancreatic cancer you should never ignore. Pancreatic cancer has one of the lowest survival rates of any form of the disease . According to Cancer Research UK, just five percent of sufferers in England lived for 10 years or more after diagnosis between 2013 and 2017.
A GP known as Dr Ahmed on social media said pancreatic cancer has "the worst prognosis of any cancer" as it is usually diagnosed at a late stage. "It produces very non-specific symptoms," he explained. However, the doctor shared that there are three signs of the condition people "cannot ignore.
" While these symptoms on their own are not enough to diagnose pancreatic cancer, it may be worth visiting your GP if you notice them. "I want to stress the point: if you've got any of these symptoms, it does not mean you have pancreatic cancer," Dr Ahmed added, before encouraging people "not to be afraid" to ask their doctor about the condition. Dr Ahmed said this could be a sign of pancreatic cancer "in a person who has not put on any weight.
" "This is because the pancreas makes insulin and having a cancer in the pancreas can disrupt this very delicate balance and make people diabetic," he said. Pancreatic Cancer Action Network states: "Diabetes may be either a risk factor or a symptom of pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer is more likely to occur in people who have long-standing (over five years) diabetes than in people who do not have diabetes.
"In pancreatic cancer patients who have had diabetes for less than five years, it is unclear if the diabetes contributed to the cancer or if the precancerous cells caused the diabetes." The organisation adds that new-onset diabetes in over 50s could be an early symptom of the disease, according to research. "A sudden change in blood sugar levels in diabetics who previously had well-controlled diabetes may also be a sign of pancreatic cancer.
" The GP said this may be a "more subtle" sign, so you might not spot it at first. Jaundice is a "slight yellowing of the white of the eyes or yellowing of the skin," the doctor said. "This happens because if you've got pancreatic cancer, this can push on the bile duct and this can block bile from getting through," he explained, adding that this can then 'build up in the skin and eyes.
' The doctor added that this can also give you "very itchy skin, pale stools and very dark urine." "Aching pain normally in the top part of your abdomen" can also be a warning sign, according to the doctor. The NHS states that "pain at the top part of your tummy and your back, which may feel worse when you're eating or lying down and better when you lean forward," is a symptom of pancreatic cancer.
"Thankfully, pancreatic cancer is very rare," Dr Ahmed added. "But it is [often] picked up very late because of the very vague symptoms. If you've got any of these, please go to your doctor.
" According to the NHS, other symptoms of pancreatic cancer include loss of appetite or losing weight without trying to; feeling tired or having no energy; a high temperature, or feeling hot or shivery; feeling or being sick; diarrhoea or constipation, or other changes in your poo; and symptoms of indigestion, such as feeling bloated..
