Stool changes with pancreatic cancer can include diarrhea, foul-smelling stool, constipation, and changes in stool color.

The pancreas is an organ between the stomach and the spine that helps the body digest food and produce hormones such as insulin.

Pancreatic cancer can affect any part of the pancreas and may lead to changes in a person’s bowel habits.

Read on to learn more about how pancreatic cancer can cause changes to stool, other digestive issues it can cause, how a person can manage stool changes, and more.

Stool changes in people with pancreatic cancer can include diarrhea, constipation, and color changes.

Diarrhea

The pancreas produces digestive enzymes that pass into the small intestine to help the body break down and digest food. When someone has pancreatic cancer, their pancreas cannot produce enough digestive enzymes. Therefore, only a small amount can reach the intestines.

When there are not enough digestive enzymes in the small intestine, the body cannot digest food properly. This is called exocrine pancreatic insufficiency and is common in pancreatic cancer.

This results in the body not being able to absorb all the necessary nutrients, known as malabsorption. Malabsorption can lead to diarrhea and greasy, foul-smelling stools.

Constipation

The lack of digestive enzymes from the pancreas to the small intestine can also slow the digestive process and cause the stool to become dry and hard. This can lead to constipation, which is when a person has difficulty passing a stool or passes stools infrequently.

A person may also experience constipation due to pain relief medications such as opioids or other medications they take for pancreatic cancer symptoms.

Color changes

Pancreatic cancer may also cause changes in the color of the stool.

According to the American Cancer Society, jaundice is one of the most common first symptoms of pancreatic cancer. It occurs when a blockage of the bile duct in the pancreas prevents bilirubin from entering the intestines.

Bilirubin is a liquid that comes from bile that helps give stool a dark brown color as it leaves the body. When a person with pancreatic cancer has jaundice, the lack of bilirubin in the intestines can lead to pale, clay-colored, and greasy stools.

A healthcare professional may recommend pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT).

PERT is an oral medication that can replace the digestive enzymes that the pancreas can no longer produce effectively. This can allow someone to digest food more easily and absorb the right amount of nutrients.

This can help prevent stool changes such as diarrhea, constipation, and greasy and foul-smelling stools.

There are several changes to diet and lifestyle a person can also make to help manage changes to the stools, including:

  • adjusting the amount of fiber intake
  • avoiding high fat, high sugar, greasy, or fried foods
  • drinking plenty of fluids
  • eating 6 to 8 small meals and snacks throughout the day, rather than fewer, bigger meals

Pancreatic cancer may lead to digestive issues such as:

It is important to note that these symptoms and stool changes can occur due to a number of conditions. A person needs to contact a doctor for an accurate diagnosis if they notice any persistent digestive issues or changes in their bowel habits.

If a person experiences changes to their stool that last longer than 1 week, they need to contact a healthcare professional.

These can include:

  • diarrhea
  • constipation
  • foul-smelling stools
  • greasy stools
  • pale or clay-colored stools

People also need to inform their doctors of any other digestive symptoms they may be experiencing, such as nausea, indigestion, and gas.

What is the color of pancreatic cancer poop?

Pancreatic cancer can cause the stool to become pale or clay colored. This can occur if a person develops jaundice.

What does pancreatic cancer poop smell like?

Pancreatic cancer can lead to foul-smelling stools. This is because the condition can affect the production of digestive enzymes, preventing the body from absorbing the necessary nutrients from food.

Where do you feel pancreatic cancer pain?

When a person has pancreatic cancer, they may feel pain in the upper or middle parts of the abdomen. The pain may also travel into the back.

What are the first symptoms of pancreatic cancer?

According to the American Cancer Society, one of the most common first symptoms of pancreatic cancer is jaundice. Some people may first notice dark urine if they have jaundice.

Jaundice can also cause yellowing of the skin and eyes and pale-colored stools.

Pancreatic cancer can affect the production of digestive enzymes, which can slow down or speed up the digestive process.

This can prevent the body from absorbing the correct amount of nutrients from food. This can lead to several changes to stool, such as diarrhea, greasy and foul-smelling stools, and constipation.

Pancreatic cancer can also cause other digestive issues, such as indigestion, nausea, vomiting, bloating, and excess gas.

A person may be able to manage changes to the stool by beginning pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy and adjusting their diet.