Nausea Pancreatic Cancer Symptoms

Pancreatic cancer occurs on average in one in every 75 people in the United Kingdom. The mortality rate is very high – only around 5% survive past five years. It is most common in the elderly and is incredibly rare in the under 40s. Pancreatic cancer is particularly aggressive, but it is also very hard to detect. One of the reasons for this is that the symptoms associated with pancreatic cancer usually point, in the first instance, to other ailments and conditions. Furthermore, pancreatic cancer tumours hide themselves very well and a specialist examination is necessary in order to confirm a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.

What is Nausea?

Nausea is a general feeling of being unwell, whereby the patient will feel like vomiting. With nausea, vomiting often occurs, but it is also possible to feel nauseous without any vomiting happening.

How does Nausea relate to Pancreatic Cancer?

Nausea is one of the more common pancreatic cancer symptoms. It occurs in between 30 and 50% of all those diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and is usually caused by the pancreatic cancer tumour obstructing the digestive tract or by radiotherapy or chemotherapy.

If nausea pancreatic cancer symptoms are caused by a blockage of the digestive tract, a duodenal stent will usually be applied through surgery. A duodenal stent is a hard piece of piping that is inserted in the digestive tract, meaning that this cannot be blocked by pressure of the tumour. Stents are also used on the gall bladder tracts with pancreatic cancer sufferers. However, stents are a temporary measure as the tumour will continue to grow and cause further blockages.

If nausea pancreatic cancer symptoms are caused by chemotherapy or radiotherapy, your general practitioner may be able to prescribe anti vomiting drugs such as Reglan or Metoclopromide.

What are the Nausea Pancreatic Cancer Symptoms?

The symptoms of nausea pancreatic cancer symptoms include:

General feelings of being unwell
Vomiting
Dizziness
Abdominal discomfort
Tiredness
Lethargy

Further Information about Nausea Pancreatic Cancer Symptoms

If you are experiencing nausea pancreatic cancer symptoms, it is important to seek medical advice. As your nausea pancreatic cancer symptoms may be caused by the tumour blocking your digestive tract, it is important to have this fully investigated in case you require surgery to alleviate the symptoms. If you are experiencing nausea pancreatic cancer symptoms as a result of chemotherapy or radiotherapy, it is also very important to have this checked out, as vomiting can lead to dehydration and your immune system will be too severely compromised by the chemotherapy to be able to withstand issues such as dehydration.

Nausea pancreatic cancer symptoms occurs in nearly half of all those who suffer from pancreatic cancer. It is very important to seek medical advice if you are experiencing nausea, particularly if you are also vomiting, to ensure appropriate action is taken. Even if you are not due for a medical check up yet, please do make an appointment to have this checked out. It could be a sign of your cancer spreading and causing pressure on your digestive tract, which would need investigating immediately.