Pancreatic Cancer: 10 Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore
Pancreatic cancer can be difficult to detect early because it often causes no symptoms in its early stages. When symptoms do appear, they can resemble much more common digestive or other health problems. American Cancer Society+1
Possible warning signs include:
- Yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice)
- Dark urine
- Pale, greasy, or floating stools
- Persistent or unexplained abdominal pain
- Pain that radiates to the back
- Unintentional weight loss
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea or vomiting
- Unusual fatigue or weakness
- New or worsening diabetes or changes in blood sugar
These symptoms do not mean someone has pancreatic cancer. Jaundice, abdominal pain, weight loss, and many other symptoms have numerous possible causes, most of which are not cancer. American Cancer Society
When to see a doctor
New, persistent, or worsening symptoms—particularly unexplained weight loss, jaundice, persistent abdominal/back pain, or new blood-sugar problems—should be medically evaluated. Diagnosis requires appropriate testing; symptoms alone cannot confirm pancreatic cancer. American Cancer Society
For people at average risk without symptoms, routine pancreatic-cancer screening is not currently recommended. People with a strong family history or certain inherited genetic conditions may need specialized surveillance. American Cancer Society
