Symptom 3: Nausea and Vomiting
Everyone’s been there – that queasy feeling in your stomach, signaling the impending urge to hurl. Most times, it’s a fleeting discomfort, perhaps the aftermath of a dodgy meal or a ride on a roller coaster. However, persistent nausea is different; it’s relentless, staying far longer than any food-related upset or motion sickness would.
But how does nausea link to duodenal cancer? It’s not just about an irritable stomach lining. When a tumor takes residence in the duodenum, it often disturbs the otherwise smooth flow of digested food. This obstruction can make your stomach churn, leading to persistent nausea. It’s a symptom, which at first glance might appear unrelated to the duodenum, but dig a little deeper, and the connections become glaringly evident.
A particularly disturbing twist in this narrative is the sight of blood in the vomit. While vomiting itself is the body’s way of rejecting what it perceives as harmful, the presence of blood signifies something even more sinister. Tumors can bleed, especially when irritated by the passage of food. This blood, when regurgitated, can appear in the vomit, providing a visual confirmation that all is not well.
Aside from the immediate concern of vomiting, there are other subsequent issues to consider. Consistent vomiting can lead to dehydration. Moreover, the act itself can strain the esophagus, leading to tears, further compounding the problem. It’s like a domino effect; one symptom leading to another, each more concerning than the last.(3)
