Beware! Your itching problem can indicate pancreatic cancer

The pancreas is a glandular organ located beneath the stomach that may develop pancreatic cancer when cells start to grow uncontrollably and create a tumour. These malignant cells are fatal and can spread throughout the body. The symptoms of pancreatic cancer may vary from person to person. However, some of the common symptoms experienced by patients are discomfort in the back that originates in the abdomen, appetite loss or unintentional weight loss, jaundice – yellowing of the skin, urine with a deep colour, blood clots, fatigue, and skin itching.

A buildup of bilirubin, a substance found in bile, causes jaundice, which gives the skin and eyes a yellow appearance. A bile duct transports bile from the liver into the small intestine. When anything, like a pancreatic tumour, prevents the liver from releasing bile, bilirubin builds up. Jaundice, a disease that may affect people with pancreatic cancer, can cause severe itching.

"Uncomfortable and chronic itchy skin is one of the major clinical signs of pancreatic cancer where a patient later notices a skin colour change. Itching as a symptom is often ignored for allergic reactions and is not a common symptom of pancreatic cancer," says Dr Nitin Gupta, Senior Consultant, Gastroenterology, Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute & Research Centre.

As itchiness can be a symptom of a deadly disease like cancer, it is recommended to seek medical attention instead of scratching the skin.

Researchers are still not sure about the main reasons behind pancreatic cancer, but there are some common factors that are seen in pancreatic cancer patients, like:

• Smoking and using other tobacco products
• Obesity or having excess weight around the waist
• Diabetes, particularly type 2 diabetes, which is related to obesity
• Gene changes (mutations) caused by hereditary chronic pancreatitis that are transferred from parent to child can also cause the disease.

Pancreatic cancer can be a silent disease at an early stage, as it is difficult to detect pancreatic cancer and is usually not discovered until it reaches an advanced stage. Therefore, one might experience complications at a later stage. While suffering from pancreatic cancer complications can occur due to a number of factors, such as pressure on neighbouring organs, a deficiency in molecules produced by healthy pancreatic cells, the disease's own metabolism, or the spread (metastases) of the tumour to other areas of the body.

Once the symptoms are visible, it is advised to visit a doctor for medical help, who will analyse a patient’s condition and accordingly suggest treatment options. There are several ways to diagnose pancreatic cancer:

1. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography procedure (ERCP) & Cholangioscopy – Using the ERCP assisted cholangioscopy, a thorough assessment can be made, it minimises the need for additional testing and repeat procedures and speed up the time it takes for patients to start receiving treatment when compared to traditional endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.
   
2. Under the direction of imaging through endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), a gastroenterologist places a needle into the suspected mass and removes a small piece of tissue. The term "fine needle biopsies" is frequently used to describe this process.

While there is no particular reason why you could develop pancreatic cancer, there are certain steps that can help in reducing the risk. Firstly, people should be sure of eating a healthy diet. Include more green veggies, colourful fruits and avoid processed, oily and sugary foods. Maintaining a healthy weight by exercising regularly, even if it means going for short walks, is essential. Most importantly, steer clear of unhealthy habits such as smoking or excessive alcohol consumption to avoid the risk.