What are the symptoms of pancreas problems?

The pancreas is a gland located in the abdominal cavity behind the stomach. Its main job is to help digest food by pumping enzymes into the small intestine. These enzymes chemically break down food as it moves through the small intestine, letting the body extract energy and nutrients. Pancreatic diseases are often life-threatening, so the symptoms of pancreas problems should be a cause for immediate concern.

Two of the most common diseases of the pancreas are pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. The symptoms of these conditions are quite different.

Pancreatitis

Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas caused by a malfunction involving the digestive enzymes that the pancreas makes. In a normally functioning pancreas, these enzymes don't become active until they are delivered to the small intestine, where they can begin to break down food. But pancreatitis occurs when the enzymes become active too early and begin to break down the tissue of the pancreas itself.

Pancreatitis can either be acute or chronic. Acute pancreatitis happens suddenly. It usually starts with pain in the upper abdomen. The pain can be severe and long lasting, or it can be a mild pain that worsens when eating. Symptoms of acute pancreatitis also can include a swollen abdomen, fever, nausea and vomiting.

There are a number of potential causes of acute pancreatitis. For one, the tube that connects the pancreas to the small intestine can be blocked by gallstones, causing the pancreatic enzymes to back up inside the gland itself. Pancreatitis also can be caused by drinking excessive amounts of alcohol.

Treatment for acute pancreatitis usually involves hospitalization and, in the case of gallstone-induced pancreatitis, surgery.

Chronic pancreatitis occurs more slowly. The symptoms emerge over time and include abdominal pain, nausea, fatty stools and weight loss. Chronic pancreatitis can be caused by alcoholism or triggered by a single acute attack. Pancreatitis also can be inherited when there is a family history of pancreatitis.
Treatment for chronic pancreatitis usually involves a special diet, medication and abstention from alcohol.

Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States, according the Journal of the American Medical Association. In part this is because of the pancreas’ location behind the stomach and in front of the spine, making it difficult to access, and also because it spreads rapidly and is difficult to detect in its earliest stages.

The symptoms of pancreatic cancer also contribute to the deadliness of the disease. Often they only appear after the cancer has spread, and they can also be too general to aid in pinpointing the disease. The symptoms of pancreatic cancer include:

• Upper abdominal pain or back pain
• Loss of appetite or unintended weight loss
• Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)

Anyone experiencing one or more of these symptoms should talk to a doctor. Though they may indicate pancreatic cancer, the symptoms can be caused by a variety of other ailments as well. The Pancreatic Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins offers a full range of information on pancreatic cancer.

A number of tests can indicate the presence of pancreatic cancer. These include blood tests to evaluate liver function and tests using imaging technology (ultrasound, MRI or CT scans, for example). Once pancreatic cancer is diagnosed, it can be treated with surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

Risk factors for pancreatic cancer include being a smoker, being overweight, being older, having chronic pancreatitis and being male. Anyone worried about pancreatic cancer can decrease their risk by quitting smoking, eating a healthier diet and trying to lose weight.