Jaundice
Jaundice, or yellowed skin and eyes, can be dramatic and unsightly. It is caused by a build up of a biochemical called bilirubin. Bilirubin is a natural byproduct of the breakdown of our red blood cells. It is cleaned from the blood by the liver and collected in the gallbladder. From there, this yellow-green liquid is passed through bile ducts and into the intestines where it can be excreted in the feces. The bile duct passes through the pancreas on its way to the intestine.
When a tumor of the pancreas blocks the bile duct, it builds up. The liver cannot clean any more bilirubin out of the blood because it is already full. As a result, bilirubin builds up in the blood and turns the skin and eyes a frightening shade of bright yellow.
