“It’s all my fault; I harmed you all!” Mr. Chen sobbed uncontrollably while holding the diagnosis report. Before the incident, Mr. Chen’s family had been experiencing unexplained abdominal pain intermittently. Initially, they thought it was just food poisoning. However, when their son couldn’t bear the pain after a meal, Mr. Chen rushed him to the hospital for a check-up. The result was shocking: Their son had pancreatic cancer.
Mr. Chen couldn’t understand: “My son is only ten years old; how could he have cancer? It’s a stomach ache; my wife and I often have it too!” The doctor inquired about how long the family had been experiencing these symptoms and then arranged for the whole family to undergo relevant tests. Unsurprisingly, all three members of the family were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
After ruling out genetic and hereditary factors, the doctor asked about the family’s daily diet and discovered the cause was the homemade wontons Mr. Chen prepared daily.
In recent months, Mr. Chen had found some near-expiry minced meat being sold online. The meat quality seemed similar to that sold in the market, but the price was much lower, so he often bought it to make wonton filling. However, he was unaware that although this meat was cost-effective, it usually came from small workshops or scraps, such as lymphatic or moldy meat, significantly increasing the risk of disease. The source of the family’s pancreatic cancer was traced back to this meat.
Four symptoms to watch out for: beware of pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer is a malignant tumor that, once it occurs, progresses rapidly and aggressively, with a high tendency to spread and metastasize. Because the pancreas is hidden among organs like the stomach, liver, and gallbladder, it is generally difficult to detect abnormalities through routine examinations. Moreover, the symptoms of pancreatic cancer are not apparent in the early stages.
Some symptoms of pancreatic cancer resemble those of gastrointestinal diseases, such as bloating, abdominal pain, and indigestion, leading many patients to be misdiagnosed with stomach issues, gastritis, or chronic cholecystitis in the early stages. Consequently, many pancreatic cancer patients are only diagnosed at an advanced stage.
Therefore, it is crucial to be vigilant. If your body exhibits any of the following signals, it is essential to seek medical attention promptly, as these could be symptoms of pancreatic cancer.
- Jaundice: When pancreatic cancer compresses the pancreatic duct and affects the bile duct, it can cause bile duct obstruction, leading to yellowing of the skin and eyes, which in turn causes jaundice. This is a common clinical manifestation of pancreatic head cancer.
- Steatorrhea: Steatorrhea refers to excess fat in the stool, which may occur when the pancreas cannot secrete enough digestive enzymes due to disease, resulting in incomplete fat digestion. This can lead to greasy stools. If you notice that the toilet bowl often has a stool that is difficult to flush away, it may be a sign of pancreatic dysfunction.
- Postprandial abdominal pain: Experiencing abdominal pain after eating, aside from gastrointestinal diseases, could also indicate pancreatic disease. Patients may also experience bloating, nausea, and ascites. The pain is not confined to the lower abdomen and may affect the upper abdomen as the tumor changes position. Such abnormalities should be taken seriously.
- Loss of appetite and unexplained weight loss: Pancreatic cancer can also cause gastrointestinal abnormalities. A sudden loss of appetite and unexplained weight loss should raise concerns about potential cancer. If such symptoms occur under normal dietary and lifestyle conditions and lead to rapid weight loss in a short period, it is crucial to seek medical examination promptly.
Follow us on X, Facebook, or Pinterest
