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What To Know About Pancreatic Cancer And Yellow Skin

There is a definite link between pancreatic cancer and a yellowing of the skin, called jaundice. Jaundice can happen when a cancerous growth presses on the bile duct, a tube that takes bile from the liver to the small intestine.

Most people with pancreatic cancer have jaundice as one of their first symptoms. Jaundice also causes a yellow tinge in the whites of the eyes, dark-colored urine, light-colored stools, and itchy skin.

Management approaches include the insertion of a tube into the bile duct to keep it open or surgery that bypasses the blockage.

This article examines pancreatic cancer and yellow skin, including management approaches. It also discusses other symptoms of this form of cancer, survival rates, and commonly asked questions.

Most people with pancreatic cancer experience jaundice as one of their first symptoms.

Cancer in the head of the pancreas can cause these symptoms. Cancers in other locations of the pancreas may not present with jaundice unless the cancer has spread to other areas of the body.

Jaundice refers to the yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes. Other indications of jaundice include:

What causes jaundice?

Jaundice occurs due to a buildup of bilirubin. This dark, brown-yellow substance is a component of bile, a liquid the liver makes.

Bile travels through the common bile duct into the small intestine, where it works to break down fats. Eventually, bile leaves the body through the stool.

Jaundice occurs when an obstruction in the common bile duct prevents bile from reaching the small intestine, resulting in an accumulation of bilirubin.

When does jaundice occur in pancreatic cancer?

Jaundice may occur during any stage of pancreatic cancer, depending on its location.

Cancer that begins in the head of the pancreas is close to the common bile duct. This can cause pressure on the duct and lead to jaundice, starting in the early stage when a tumor is still fairly small.

In contrast, cancer that begins in the body or tail of the pancreas may not cause jaundice until a later stage. This is because it may not exert pressure on the bile duct until it has spread through the pancreas.

By the time this happens, the cancer has frequently spread past the pancreas. When pancreatic cancer spreads, it often reaches the liver, which may also cause jaundice.

It is worth noting that conditions other than pancreatic cancer can also cause jaundice.

Learn more about jaundice.

In some cases, placing a stent in the bile duct may help reduce symptoms of jaundice. A stent is a short, narrow tube that keeps the duct open.

Another option is pancreatic biliary bypass surgery. In this procedure, a doctor cuts the bile duct above the blockage and reattaches it to the small intestine. This is almost always effective in relieving jaundice.

These two approaches may not be appropriate for every person. In these cases, using antihistamines and keeping the skin cool and moist may decrease itching. Diphenhydramine (Allermax, Banophen, Benadryl) is an example of an antihistamine.

Learn more about pancreatic cancer treatments.

Other symptoms of pancreatic cancer include:

Unintended weight loss: This is very common, as people with the condition have little appetite.

Back or belly pain: This is also common, as cancer that begins in the body or tail of the pancreas can become very large, putting pressure on nearby organs and causing pain. However, back or belly pain is most frequently due to a condition other than pancreatic cancer.

Nausea and vomiting: Cancer that puts pressure on the far end of the stomach can result in a partial blockage, making it difficult for food to get through. This can lead to vomiting or nausea.

Blood clots: In some individuals, the first sign of pancreatic cancer is a blood clot in a large vein, frequently in the leg. This can cause redness, pain, warmth, and swelling in the leg. If a piece of the clot breaks off and travels to the lungs, it can cause chest pain. This can even be life threatening.

Liver or gallbladder enlargement: A blocked bile duct can cause bile to accumulate in the gallbladder, enlarging it. If the cancer spreads to the liver, it will also cause liver enlargement.

Diabetes: This can occur when the cancer destroys insulin-making cells, but this is rare. More often, pancreatic cancer causes small blood sugar changes.

Learn more about pancreatic cancer symptoms.

A person's outlook will depend on when a doctor first makes a diagnosis.

The 5-year relative survival rate (RSR) refers to the percentage of people with pancreatic cancer who will be alive at the end of 5 years compared with those who do not have the condition.

The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database provides RSRs for pancreatic cancer. Instead of classifying stages according to the American Joint Committee on Cancer's Tumour, Node, Metastasis (TNM) system — stage 1, stage 2, and so forth — the SEER database classifies them as follows:

Learn more about the survival rates for pancreatic cancer.

Below are answers to commonly asked questions about jaundice due to pancreatic cancer.

Is jaundice the last stage of pancreatic cancer?

Jaundice may appear at any stage of pancreatic cancer, depending on where the cancer starts. Cancer that begins in the head of the pancreas may cause jaundice at an early stage, while cancer that begins in the body or tail of the pancreas may not produce jaundice until later.

What are the symptoms of the last stage of pancreatic cancer?

People with pancreatic cancer typically have no symptoms until after the tumor spreads to other organs or becomes very large. For this reason, symptoms may appear in the late stages rather than the early stages. Symptoms may be nonspecific, such as unintentional weight loss, loss of appetite, or belly pain.

Yellow skin, also called jaundice, is a very common symptom of pancreatic cancer. Jaundice can occur when a tumor puts pressure on the bile duct, causing an obstruction and resulting in the buildup of bilirubin. Other signs of jaundice include yellowing of the whites of the eyes, dark urine, and light-colored stools.

There are two approaches to managing jaundice. A doctor may insert a stent into the bile duct to keep it open, or they may do pancreatic biliary bypass surgery.

Pancreatic cancer may also cause unintentional weight loss, blood clots, nausea, and vomiting. Survival rates depend on how early a diagnosis occurs, but the overall 5-year relative survival rate is 13%.

Symptoms Of Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A symptoms usually begin 2–4 weeks after you contract the virus. Symptoms may be mild or severe and can include fever, diarrhea, and jaundice. Children often don't have any symptoms.

Hepatitis A is a viral infection that primarily causes inflammation in your liver. It's transmitted through contaminated food or water or through contact with a person who has the virus.

The symptoms of hepatitis A can mimic those of:

other types of hepatitis

other liver diseases

flu-like illness

One of the most common symptoms is jaundice, a yellowing of your skin and the whites of your eyes. Jaundice happens as a result of buildup of a substance called bilirubin.

Read on to learn more about the symptoms of hepatitis A, including when they typically develop and how long they usually last.

According to the World Health Organization, hepatitis A symptoms usually develop 2–4 weeks after you contract the virus. In rare cases, symptoms might not develop for up to 50 days.

Adults are more likely than children to develop symptoms. About 70% of adults develop symptoms, while only about 10% of children under 6 years of age develop jaundice.

Early symptoms of hepatitis A can include:

Within 1 week of the start of those symptoms, you may also develop:

Symptoms can vary significantly in severity. They tend to be worse in older adults and people with underlying health conditions, particularly chronic liver disease. The severity of symptoms is strongly related to increasing age.

Symptoms usually go away after less than 2 months, but in some people they can last up to 6 months. Symptom severity usually peaks 7–10 days after the start of jaundice.

Increased levels of liver enzymes usually resolve within 1–6 weeks.

Patterns of infection

Hepatitis A tends to follow one of five patterns:

asymptomatic infection (no symptoms)

symptomatic infection with:

cholestatic hepatitis with:

long-term elevation of alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin levels

relapsing infection (symptoms go away and then come back)

fulminant hepatitis

Fulminant hepatitis is a severe liver condition that can be life threatening. It develops in less than 1% of adults with hepatitis A.

The prevalence of hepatitis A infection has declined significantly in the United States over the past 25 years. Most cases develop in high risk populations such as:

people who travel to developing countries

people in close contact with those who have hepatitis A

males who have sex with males

people staying in hospitals

people who inject illegal drugs

people with low socioeconomic status

Here's how you can protect yourself and your children from hepatitis A:

Vaccinate children starting at 1 year of age.

Get the hepatitis A vaccine before traveling to a country where hepatitis A is common.

See a doctor immediately if you have a known exposure to the hepatitis A virus.

Additionally, you can take the following precautions if you travel to a country where hepatitis A is common:

Wash your hands regularly and thoroughly with soapy water.

Boil or cook food and water for at least a minute at 185°F (85°C).

Avoid fruit and vegetables that you don't peel yourself.

Does hepatitis A go away on its own?

Hepatitis A doesn't have any specific treatment and often goes away with supportive treatment. The hepatitis A virus replicates in your liver and is released into your intestines. Your body then excretes it through your feces.

What are the first warning signs of hepatitis A?

Early symptoms of hepatitis A can mimic those of a mild flu, including:

weight loss

vomiting and nausea

fatigue

malaise

fever

How long are people with hepatitis A contagious?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people with hepatitis A can transmit the virus for 1–2 weeks before they have symptoms and for about 1 week after symptoms start.

Hepatitis A symptoms can range from mild to severe. Adults are more likely than children to develop symptoms, which can include jaundice, itchy skin, and flu-like symptoms.

It's important to seek prompt medical attention if you think you may have hepatitis A. The symptoms will fully resolve for most people, but a small percentage of people develop severe disease that can be life threatening.

Fatty Liver: How To Identify Early Signs And Symptoms

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