10 Early Warning Signs of Pancreatic Cancer You Need to Know

4. Steatorrhoea (Changes in Stool)

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When a tumor blocks the pancreatic duct, the essential digestive enzymes required to break down fats cannot reach the small intestine. This leads to a condition known as steatorrhoea, where undigested fat is excreted directly into the stool. These changes are often quite noticeable in the bathroom: stools may appear pale, gray, or clay-colored due to the lack of bilirubin. Furthermore, the high fat content makes the stools frequent, unusually large, oily in appearance, and exceptionally foul-smelling. In many cases, these greasy stools are remarkably buoyant and difficult to flush away, serving as a clear indicator of malabsorption.