Pancreatic cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths and can lead to a condition known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a serious condition where a blood clot forms in a deep vein, usually in the legs or pelvis, causing pain, swelling, and redness. According to the American Cancer Society, the first sign of pancreatic cancer in some cases is a blood clot in a large vein, often in the leg, as reported by “Times Now.”

The Four Main Signs of Deep Vein Thrombosis

    • Severe pain
    • Swelling
    • Redness
    • Warmth in the affected limb

    Doctors confirmed that sometimes a piece of the clot breaks off and travels to the lungs, causing difficulty breathing or chest pain. When the clot moves to other parts of the body, including the lungs, it becomes a pulmonary embolism, a serious emergency requiring immediate treatment.

    Doctors also confirmed that patients with pancreatic cancer are at higher risk of developing blood clots in veins. Experts say various factors contribute to this increased risk, including the cancer itself and its treatments, such as chemotherapy or surgery to remove the tumor.

    For many patients, reduced mobility after surgery may increase the likelihood of blood clots.

    Apart from cancer, other risk factors for clots include:

    • A hereditary condition that increases the likelihood of blood clots
    • Hormone replacement therapy or birth control pills containing estrogen
    • Varicose veins
    • If you have had a blood clot before, you are more likely to have another
    • Being over 60 years old
    • Obesity or overweight
    • Smoking

Pancreatic cancer occurs when pancreatic cells begin to mutate and grow uncontrollably, forming a tumor. The pancreas is a gland in the abdomen located between the spine and stomach that produces hormones regulating blood sugar levels and enzymes that aid digestion.

Most pancreatic cancers start in the pancreatic ducts, and doctors say early-stage pancreatic tumors do not show up in imaging tests, so many patients are diagnosed only after the cancer has spread. Pancreatic cancer is also resistant to many common cancer drugs, making treatment very difficult.

Although there are not many early signs of pancreatic cancer that you can easily recognize, doctors say a few usually appear once the tumor begins to affect other digestive organs.