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While abdominal pain and weight loss are commonly recognised, warning signs of pancreatic cancer can also surface in other areas.
In its early stages, the disease usually has no noticeable symptoms, making early detection extremely difficult. (Image: Pexels)
Pancreatic cancer is a silent killer, often remaining undetected until it’s too late. In its early stages, the disease usually has no noticeable symptoms, making early detection extremely difficult. While most attention is given to signs like abdominal pain or weight loss, the warning signs can sometimes appear in unexpected areas — such as your legs. Here let’s take a look at four crucial leg-related symptoms that should never be ignored. But before we dive in, let’s first explore what pancreatic cancer is and why it’s so dangerous.
Understanding pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer develops in the tissues of the pancreas, a small, pear-shaped organ located behind the stomach and in front of the spine. According to National Cancer Institute, the pancreas is about six inches long and has three sections — the head, body and tail. This organ plays a crucial role in digestion and regulating blood sugar. It produces digestive enzymes to break down food and releases hormones like insulin and glucagon to manage blood sugar levels and help the body use energy from food.
Either the endocrine cells, which manufacture hormones, or the exocrine cells, which produce digestive juices, can be the site of pancreatic cancer. Around 95% of pancreatic tumours start in the exocrine cells.
Symptoms of pancreatic cancer
In its early stages, pancreatic cancer often shows no symptoms. As the disease progresses, the following signs may appear:
- Fatigue
- Unexplained weight loss and poor appetite
- Abdominal or back pain
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)
- Excessive hunger or thirst
- Dark urine
- Swelling of the gallbladder or liver
- Blood clots
- New-onset diabetes
4 warning signs in the legs you should not ignore
- Pain in the legsWhile leg pain can be common with various health conditions, intense or unexplained pain may be a red flag for pancreatic cancer. If the pain in your legs feels different than usual or doesn’t go away, it’s worth consulting your doctor.
- Swelling in the legs
Sudden, unexplained swelling in the legs could be a sign of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a condition linked to pancreatic cancer. DVT can lead to serious complications like a pulmonary embolism if a clot travels to the lungs. Persistent swelling requires medical attention.
- Redness or discoloration
If you notice redness or a flushed appearance in your legs, particularly along with pain, it’s important to seek medical advice. This could be an indication of a clot or other vascular issues related to pancreatic cancer.
- Warmth in the affected area
Feeling warmth in the swollen or reddened area of your leg could signal an underlying issue like a blood clot. When combined with other symptoms like pain or swelling, it’s crucial to get evaluated by a healthcare professional. While blood clots are not always associated with cancer, it’s important to err on the side of caution, especially given that pancreatic cancer often presents no symptoms in its early stages.
