What are the symptoms of pancreatic cancer?

Key Symptoms to Watch for Pancreatic Cancer

The most important symptoms to watch for pancreatic cancer include jaundice, unexplained weight loss, abdominal pain, and new-onset diabetes mellitus, particularly if you're over 60 years old without predisposing factors for diabetes. 1

Primary Warning Signs

Location-Specific Symptoms

• Head of pancreas tumors (60-70% of cases):

  • Jaundice (yellowing of skin and eyes)
  • Dark urine
  • Pale/clay-colored stools
  • Itching (pruritus)
  • Palpable gallbladder (Courvoisier's sign)

• Body and tail tumors (20-25% of cases):

  • Often diagnosed at more advanced stages
  • More likely to present with pain and weight loss without jaundice
  • Jaundice in these locations typically indicates metastatic disease

Common Symptoms Across All Locations

• Abdominal pain - Often radiates to the back 1
• Weight loss - Significant and rapid weight loss is common 1
• Digestive issues:
  • Loss of appetite
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Unusual bloating
  • Unusual belching
  • Steatorrhea (fatty, foul-smelling stools) 1, 2

Red Flag Combinations

Pay particular attention when these symptoms occur together:

• Weight loss + abdominal pain
• Jaundice + abdominal pain
• New-onset diabetes + unexplained weight loss (especially in people over 60)
• Unexplained acute pancreatitis without obvious risk factors 1

Warning Signs of Advanced Disease

The following symptoms typically indicate unresectable or advanced disease:

• Persistent back pain (suggests retroperitoneal infiltration)
• Severe and rapid weight loss
• Palpable abdominal mass
• Ascites (fluid in abdomen)
• Enlarged supraclavicular lymph node (Virchow's node) 1

Less Common but Important Signs

• Migratory thrombophlebitis (Trousseau's syndrome) - Spontaneous blood clots that move around the body 1
• New-onset diabetes mellitus - Approximately 5% of pancreatic cancer patients develop diabetes within two years before diagnosis 1, 3
• Unexplained episode of acute pancreatitis - About 5% of pancreatic cancer patients present with an atypical attack of acute pancreatitis 1

When to Seek Medical Attention

Seek immediate medical evaluation if you experience:

• Jaundice (yellowing of skin/eyes) at any age, but especially if you're over 40 4
• Unexplained weight loss combined with abdominal pain or back pain, particularly if you're over 60 4
• New-onset diabetes without typical risk factors (obesity, family history) 1, 3
• Persistent upper abdominal pain, especially if it radiates to the back 2

Risk Factors to Consider

The presence of these risk factors should lower the threshold for investigation:

• Age over 60
• Tobacco use
• Family history of pancreatic cancer
• Chronic pancreatitis
• Obesity
• Heavy alcohol use
• H. pylori infection 1, 5

Remember that early symptoms can be vague and easily attributed to more common conditions like irritable bowel syndrome, which may delay diagnosis. If you have persistent symptoms, especially multiple symptoms from this list, insist on thorough evaluation.