Signs that appear when the 'pancreas' deep inside the body is damaged
Diseases that affect the pancreas generally have the characteristic of impairing the body's ability to digest fats. This is because the pancreas is the only digestive organ that produces enzymes to break down fats. Therefore, when the pancreas is damaged, eating greasy foods such as hamburgers or pizza, or high-fat foods like avocados and nuts, can cause nausea. Undigested fats that are not absorbed are excreted in the stool, sometimes leading to diarrhea caused by fatty stools. In particular, when pancreatitis reduces fat digestion ability, the stool becomes almost white in color due to the fat content.
If you experience unexplained abdominal pain along with other symptoms, pancreatic cancer or acute pancreatitis should be suspected. Abdominal pain is the most common symptom, and the pain varies depending on the condition or location. The pancreas is located near the back, so patients may also complain of back pain along with abdominal pain. If the pain is sudden, intense, and centered in the middle of the abdomen, it could be acute pancreatitis. Signs of pancreatic cancer include ▲persistent abdominal pain for several weeks, ▲indigestion, ▲loss of appetite, ▲reduced food intake due to pain, and ▲weight loss.
If you suddenly lose weight without dieting, caution is necessary. Weight loss can occur due to anorexia and decreased food intake caused by pancreatic cancer-related pain. If you lose more than 5% of your usual weight over a period of 6 months without any specific reason, or approximately 4.5 kg regardless of the period, you should visit a hospital to determine the exact cause.
Sudden onset of diabetes is also a warning sign of pancreatic damage. Diabetes can be both a cause and a result of pancreatic cancer. Among pancreatic cells, beta cells are responsible for insulin secretion that regulates blood sugar levels. When conditions like pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer progress, pancreatic cells are destroyed, and these beta cells are also damaged. As a result, diabetes may develop or previously well-controlled diabetes may worsen. In fact, 90% of patients with chronic pancreatitis develop diabetes as the disease progresses. If a person over 50 develops or experiences a sudden worsening of diabetes without obesity or other specific risk factors such as family history, screening for pancreatic cancer is absolutely necessary.