Pancreatic cancer

Signs and symptoms

Symptoms of pancreatic cancer

  • Pain or discomfort in your tummy area, which may spread to your back
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Indigestion 
  • Jaundice (yellow skin and eyes, dark urine and itchy skin)
  • Loss of appetite
  • Nausea (feeling sick) 
  • Feeling full very quickly
  • A lasting change in your bowel habits – pale, smelly, floaty stools
  • A new diagnosis of diabetes without weight gain
  • Tiredness

Sometimes there may be no signs or symptoms in the early stages of pancreatic cancer. 

All these symptoms can be caused by other common conditions, but it’s important to go to the GP and get any unusual changes checked. 

Can I be screened for pancreatic cancer?

Testing for pancreatic cancer when you have no symptoms is called screening. There is no national screening programme for pancreatic cancer as it is not a common cancer and there is no single test to diagnose it. If you're worried about your risk of pancreatic cancer, talk to your family doctor. 

If you have a family history or genetic risk of pancreatic cancer

If you have a strong family history of pancreatic disease or cancer or you have one of the genes that increase the risk of pancreatic cancer, talk to your GP about screening. Screening can include a CT scan, or MRI scan and an EUS (endoscopic ultrasound) every 3 years. Screening usually starts at the age of 40.

Talk to your GP about screening if you have a family history of pancreatic cancer or genetic risk factors.

Talk to a Cancer Nurse

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