Yahoo News Pancreatic cancer warning signs that can appear in your legs - and other symptoms to look out for
Health experts say pancreatic cancer may not have any symptoms or they might be hard to spot.
However, some warning signs may show up in your legs. Although some symptoms may seem 'normal' or associated with ageing, it is always wise to consult a doctor - especially if these symptoms appear unexpectedly.
Previous research found up to 70% of cancer patients were unaware of their increased risk of blood clots, reports the Mirror. Often, the first sign of pancreatic cancer can be Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) - a disease notoriously difficult to treat. These findings are the result of a survey conducted by the European Cancer Patient Coalition (ECPC), which assessed patient awareness and knowledge about cancer-associated DVT.
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Catching cancer early is crucial for the best possible outcome, but some cancers, including pancreatic, can be hard to detect due to their location deep within the body. However, four specific sensations in the legs could be among the first signs of the disease, according to health bodies. People should be vigilant for these leg signs and report any experiences of them to their GP.
People are being warned about a sinister health implication of excessive blood clotting — a potential symptom of pancreatic cancer. The disease is notorious for turning the blood into a hyper-coagulative state, seriously upping the chances of thrombosis.
Leg symptoms to keep an eye on include pain, swelling, redness and warmth. If breathlessness also sets in it may show a fragment of the clot broke free and is lodged in the lungs, resulting in chest agony or breathing woes - known as pulmonary embolism or PE. The Cancer Society cautions: "Having a blood clot does not usually mean that you have cancer. Most blood clots are caused by other things."
Nevertheless, pancreatic cancer remains a top killer due to its sneaky nature with non-obvious signals like dropping weight unintentionally and stomach aches. The NHS has a list of symptoms, which are listed below.
Symptoms of pancreatic cancer
the whites of your eyes or your skin turn yellow (jaundice), and you may also have itchy skin, darker pee and paler poo than usual
loss of appetite or losing weight without trying to
feeling tired or having no energy
a high temperature, or feeling hot or shivery
Other symptoms can affect your digestion, such as:
feeling or being sick
diarrhoea or constipation, or other changes in your poo
pain at the top part of your tummy and your back, which may feel worse when you're eating or lying down and better when you lean forward
symptoms of indigestion, such as feeling bloated
What is the NHS advice?
The NHS says: "If you have another condition like irritable bowel syndrome, you may get symptoms like these regularly. You might find you get used to them. But it's important to be checked by a GP if your symptoms change, get worse or do not feel normal for you.
"Some of these symptoms are very common and can be caused by other conditions. Having the symptoms does not definitely mean you have pancreatic cancer, but it's important to get checked by a GP. If your symptoms are caused by cancer, finding it early may mean it's easier to treat."
