Pancreatic cancer strikes the pancreas, an abdominal gland that helps in digestion. Unfortunately, there aren’t too many tell-tale early signs, which typically begin to appear once the tumour starts affecting other organs in the digestive system. While treatments include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy, survival rates in pancreatic cancer are low since it’s difficult to diagnose in the early stages.

Some people report vague symptoms up to a year before they have a definitive diagnosis. Many say their first fleeting symptoms were back pain or stomach ache, which often got worse after meals and when they lay down.

The gamut of symptoms for pancreatic cancer includes:

Yellowing of skin or jaundice.
Dark urine.
Pale stools.
Upper abdominal pain.
Middle back pain.
General fatigue.
Itchy skin.
Nausea or vomiting.
Gas or bloating.
Appetite loss.
Blood clots.
Weight loss.
New-onset diabetes.

Early signs you should watch out for

Pain in the back or stomach

Tumours can push proximal nerves or organs, causing stubborn pain in the abdomen and mid-back. This pain can be transient and may be sharp or dull.

Bloating or abdominal swelling

Digestive problems triggered by pancreatic cancer can cause gas formation and bloating. A Swollen or distended tummy can also be the result of fluid buildup in the abdomen, called ascites.

Trouble with digestion

Appetite loss, nausea and indigestion can point to the fact that the pancreas isn’t functioning properly or that a tumour is impeding digestion.

Unexplained weight loss

Cancer often affects the way your body uses calories and protein, leading to muscle loss and poor appetite, thus causing weight loss.

Yellowing of skin (jaundice)

This is caused by the accumulation of bilirubin, a component of bile. A tumour often impedes bile flow, leading to yellowing of the skin and eyes. It can also cause itchy skin, dark-coloured urine and pale stools.

Changes in bowel pattern

Pancreatic cancer patients often experience diarrhoea or constipation, or both. This is caused by inadequate amounts of pancreatic enzymes in the intestines or by the digestive system working too slowly.

New or changing pattern of diabetes

It has been established that a sudden onset of diabetes in people aged 50 or older could be an early sign of pancreatic cancer. This is more so in individuals who have experienced continuous weight loss or don’t have a family history of diabetes. Sudden changes in glycaemic levels in patients who had well-controlled diabetes before can also be a sign of pancreatic cancer.

Most of these symptoms are rarely noticeable in the early stages, and even if they appear, they can be very subtle or easily confused with other health issues. Small wonder then, pancreatic cancer is often referred to as a “silent disease”. All the more reason why we should be more aware of the personal risk factors, more so since early detection can dramatically improve treatment outcomes.