Patient Education Cancer of the Pancreas: A Care Guide | Page 7

Symptoms
Lab Tests
Blood will be obtained to check for
bilirubin and other substances. The
blood will also be checked for tumor
markers, which are substances found
in the blood when you have cancer.
The most common are the CA19-9
and the CEA. Not all patients have
abnormal levels of these markers, but
when they are abnormal, the markers
are used to evaluate the response to
treatment.
Symptoms do not usually occur in
the early stages of pancreatic cancer.
As the cancer grows, symptoms may
include:
• Pain in the middle, upper back
that may travel to the front in the
abdomen.
• Dark urine.
• Pale or light-colored stools.
• Yellow skin and eyes (jaundice),
often with itching.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Weakness or feeling very tired.
• Loss of appetite or feeling of
fullness.
• Weight loss for no known reason.
CT Scan
(Computed Tomography)
A CT scan uses a computer linked
to an X-ray machine that takes
detailed pictures of the pancreas
and other organs and blood vessels
in the abdomen. You may receive
an injection of contrast material to
increase the information we can
get from the study. The CT scan
may show an abnormal area in the
pancreas or elsewhere, but it is hard
to know the extent of the tumor with
a CT scan alone.
Diagnosis
Many pancreatic cancers are found
accidentally during a CT scan done
for another reason. However, patients
can present with symptoms that need
more testing. The following tests or
exams may be performed.
Endoscopic
Ultrasound (EUS)
Physical Exam
A gastroenterologist passes a thin
lighted tube (endoscope) through the
mouth, down the throat, and into the
stomach, near the pancreas and the
first part of the small intestine. The
endoscope has an ultrasound probe
to obtain images. These can show
the size and location of a tumor in
the pancreas and if it has spread to
nearby structures.
Your doctor will check your skin
and eyes for signs of jaundice.
Your abdomen with be checked
for changes in the areas near your
pancreas, liver, gallbladder, and
spleen, and for abnormal buildup of
fluid called ascites.
This exam will help determine the
next phase of testing.
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