3. Unintended weight loss
Many of us strive to lose weight in order to stay fit, however, not all forms of weight loss is good. When you notice yourself losing significant weight unintentionally, it could be a sign that something is amiss in your body. One of the more common symptoms of pancreatic cancer is weight loss, usually as a result of anorexia (loss of appetite), or diarrhea, which can be due to the impaired ability of the body to digest and extract nutrients from food as a result of a poorly functioning pancreas.
Pancreatic cancer causes the pancreas to fail any of two ways. When the exocrine glands of the pancreas become affected, the production and secretion of digestive enzymes such as amylase and lipase, substances that help breakdown sugars and fat from food, decreases, leading to poor absorption of nutrients, ultimately leading to unintended weight loss.
When the endocrine glands of the pancreas become involved, the production of insulin and glucagon, hormones that control the uptake of sugar from the blood or the release of stored sugar from the liver, become affected. Since sugar is needed by the body to fuel its activities, the impairment in sugar uptake and release leads to starvation of cells, forcing the body to look for other sources of energy such as its fat deposits and muscle, ultimately leading to an unintended drop in weight.
If you notice a significant drop in your weight, make sure to make an appointment with your doctor immediately.
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