Changes In Defecation That Can Be The Beginning Of Pancreas Cancer Symptoms

Illustration of people wanting to defecate (Photo: Freepik/jcomp)

JAKARTA - pancreatic cancer is known as one of the deadliest types of cancer. Many experts refer to it as a "silent killer" because it often shows no symptoms until it reaches advanced stages.

But now, researchers have found that early signs of cancer can be seen from something very common and easy to ignore, namely bowel movements.

"The initial symptoms of pancreatic cancer are very vague and are often considered normal, even though they can be an early sign of serious conditions," said one of the researchers from the Quadram Institute in The Conversation, quoted from The Science Alert page.

Pancreas is an organ that functions to produce digestive enzymes and important hormones, including insulin. Disorders in this organ can have a broad impact on the metabolic system and overall health. The most common type of pancreatic cancer is pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), which grows in the connecting channel between the pancreas and the intestines.

The problem is, cancer in this area can inhibit the flow of digestive enzymes. As a result, the body is not able to absorb nutrients well, and patients often feel tired, weak, or have persistent digestive disorders.

But according to the researchers, changes in feces could be an important clue to this annoyance.

One of the early signs that can appear is changes in shape and color. Dirt can become more pale, oily, or difficult to clean. This happens because of the decrease in the production of the digestive enzymes needed to break fat.

Researchers from the Finland-Iran joint team said that looking pale or fat can be a signal that something is wrong with the pancreas.

In addition, patients may also experience changes in the frequency of bowel movements or feel uncomfortable after eating, which is often misinterpreted as a common digestive problem.

A 2025 study conducted by researchers from Finland and Iran found that the profile of intestinal bacteria can reflect the presence of pancreatic cancer even before symptoms appear. In this study, they analyzed the bacterial DNA of a specimen using advanced genetic technology called 16S RRNA sequencing.

As a result, they found that pancreatic cancer patients had lower diversity of intestinal bacteria, with several bacteria more or less than healthy people.

"Bacterials in the intestines not only reflect the body's condition, but can tell us what is developing long before the symptoms are felt," said one of the scientists involved.

Researchers have even succeeded in developing an artificial intelligence (AI) model that can predict whether a person has pancreatic cancer based solely on the composition of bacteria in his bag.

Although not yet widely available in hospitals, this method shows great potential for early detection. Because defecating is a natural process experienced by everyone, using a sequencing sample as a screening tool can be an effective and practical non-invasive way.

This study paved the way for a new approach in early detection of cancer. In addition to pancreatic cancer, similar methods are also being developed for colon cancer, Parkinson's disease, and other chronic conditions.

"We are entering an era where answers to complex diseases can be found from small microorganisms in our bodies." said one researcher from the Quadram Institute.