8. Blood Clots (Trousseau’s Syndrome)
In some instances, a blood clot in a large vein—a condition known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT)—is actually the very first clinical clue of an underlying pancreatic cancer. This phenomenon, sometimes called Trousseau’s Syndrome, occurs because certain cancers increase the blood’s tendency to clot. Patients should be vigilant for redness, swelling, warmth, and localized pain, typically in a single leg. The situation becomes a medical emergency if a piece of the clot breaks off and travels to the lungs (pulmonary embolism), resulting in sudden shortness of breath, chest pain, and rapid heart rate.
