Sadly, pancreatic cancer has the lowest survival rate of all common cancers, according to Pancreatic Cancer UK.
This gloomy statement emphasises the importance of getting an early diagnosis to improve your survival outcomes.
Being able to detect the tell-tale signs is key in this process.
Fortunately, Dr Deborah Lee, from Dr Fox Online Pharmacy, told Express.co.uk about what to look for when you visit the loo for a number two.
Dr Lee said: “We all know what our normal bowel habit is like, and this does vary from person to person – but if you notice you have been pooing less often or more often, or been suffering from loose, runny, greasy stools, or constipation, this needs further assessment.
“Furthermore, normal stools are brown – if your poo turns pale, looks whiteish in colour, or the stools are greasy and hard to flush away, this needs investigation.”
Everything from the consistency to the colour of your poo could hold clues.
Therefore, the doctor instructed looking out for the following four signs:
- A persistent change from your normal bowel habit – look for changes noted over a three-week period which are not improving
- Constipation – having difficulty passing stools, which are hard, and lumpy
- Diarrhoea – loose stools that occur three times a day or more often
- Pale-coloured stools – putty-coloured, whiteish, greasy stools which are hard to flush away.
Apart from signs that strike on the loo, pancreatic cancer can also spur on signs like abdominal pain and bloating.
The reason why many symptoms affect your tummy and processes connected to it comes down to pancreas playing a key role in digestion.
Dr Lee said: “It produces enzymes such as amylase which breaks down carbohydrates, lipase which breaks down fat, and protease which breaks down protein.
“Pancreatic cancer impairs the production and secretion of these enzymes into the intestines.
“As a result, food passing through the digestive tract cannot be correctly broken down.”
This can then lead to a variety of symptoms, ranging from changes in bowel habits to bloating.
While symptoms like these don’t guarantee that you have pancreatic cancer, it’s still important to get checked.
“If you notice a persistent change in your bowel habit, you are strongly advised to see your GP without delay,” the doctor added.