In Hindsight, Pancreatic Cancer Reared Its Ugly Head With Subtle Early Signs

Pancreatic cancer is a devastating disease that is often not diagnosed until it has reached an advanced stage. Unfortunately, the first sign of the disease is often also the final stages. In hindsight, many patients and their families realize that there were subtle early signs that went unnoticed. This was the case for the writer's father, who passed away from pancreatic cancer several years ago.

One of the first signs of pancreatic cancer is abdominal pain, often radiating to the back. However, this pain can be dull and achy, as was the case for the writer's father. He had a history of back problems and dismissed the pain as nothing serious, seeking relief from a chiropractor. Weight loss is another symptom of pancreatic cancer, but in the writer's father's case, he attributed it to a desire to lose weight. He had always been a large man and wanted to shed some pounds.

Another subtle sign that was overlooked was a change in his taste for food. For a man who had always enjoyed hearty meals, suddenly some of his favorite foods just didn't taste right to him. He would have his wife taste the food, but she didn't notice anything wrong. This was a clue that his health was changing, but unfortunately, it went unnoticed. A similar situation occurred with his sudden aversion to beer, which he had always enjoyed. He just didn't care for the taste anymore and switched to water or diet cola. This masked the clue for losing weight, as his beer consumption had been a significant source of calories.

One of the more peculiar signs that went unnoticed was his constant craving for peanuts. He couldn't get enough of them, which may have been due to the salt content. Shortly before his skin turned jaundiced, his whole body became itchy, which was caused by bile salt crystals backing up under his skin. This was due to the tumor blocking his bile duct, which was located at the head of his pancreas.

In hindsight, all of these signs were clues that something was wrong, but unfortunately, they were not observed or processed as anything major or needing immediate attention. Pancreatic cancer is a silent killer and the deadliest of all cancers. It is often not diagnosed until it has reached an advanced stage, which makes it very difficult to treat. The writer hopes that by sharing her father's story, she can bring awareness to some of the subtle changes in one's health that could be early signs of pancreatic cancer. Early detection is crucial, and if you or someone you know is experiencing any of these symptoms, it is important to seek medical attention immediately.