Often a patient with pancreatic cancer tends to lose weight due to the inability of the body to absorb nutrients. The nurse instructs the patient to be alert to which finding that may indicate malabsorption?

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Steatorrhea, which is the presence of fatty, oily, and foul-smelling stools, indicates that fat is not being absorbed properly by the body. This can be a sign of malabsorption, which is a common complication of pancreatic cancer. Vomiting, jaundice, and pain may also occur in pancreatic cancer, but do not specifically indicate malabsorption.

Often a Patient with Pancreatic Cancer Tends to Lose Weight