19. Difficulty Swallowing (Dysphagia)
Difficulty swallowing or dysphagia is an indirect symptom caused by pancreatic cancer. When the exocrine and endocrine glands of the pancreas become involved, digestive processes become impaired, causing poor absorption, increased acid secretion, bloating, and indigestion.
Enlarged pancreatic tumors also impinge on surrounding structures such as the stomach and intestines, causing food to back up into the esophagus causing irritation to the esophageal lining. When this happens, a person may feel some discomfort in the throat, or even yet, experience difficulty swallowing. This is due to the involvement of the superficial nerves on the lining of the esophagus which supply its entire length. The pain or discomfort resulting from gastric acid irritation can radiate to the throat, making it a chore for pancreatic cancer patients to swallow food.
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