The short answer
Pancreatic cancer often causes no symptoms until it has grown. Possible signs include jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), belly or back pain, unexplained weight loss, and new diabetes. These have many other causes.
Pancreatic cancer often causes no symptoms until it has grown.
Jaundice — yellowing of the skin and eyes — can be an early sign.
Belly pain that spreads to the back, and unexplained weight loss, are common.
New-onset diabetes or digestive changes can occur.
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The full explanation.
The simple version
The pancreas sits deep in the belly, so pancreatic cancer often causes no symptoms until it has grown. When symptoms appear, jaundice — a yellowing of the skin and eyes — and belly or back pain are among the more common ones.
Possible signs
Symptoms can include:
- Jaundice — yellow skin and eyes, dark urine, light-colored stools
- Pain in the upper belly that may spread to the back
- Unexplained weight loss and loss of appetite
- Nausea, digestive changes, or new-onset diabetes
Why it is often found late
Because early pancreatic cancer usually causes no symptoms and the pancreas is hard to examine, the cancer is often found only after it has grown. That is why new or lasting symptoms should be checked.
Jaundice and new upper-belly or back pain should be checked promptly.
When to see a doctor
See a doctor for jaundice, ongoing upper belly or back pain, unexplained weight loss, or new diabetes. These symptoms have many other causes, but they should be evaluated.
Words to know
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Common questions
▸What are the symptoms?
Possible signs include jaundice (yellow skin and eyes), pain in the upper belly or back, unexplained weight loss, loss of appetite, nausea, light-colored stools, dark urine, and sometimes new diabetes.
▸Why is it often found late?
The pancreas sits deep in the belly, and early pancreatic cancer usually causes no symptoms. Symptoms often appear only once the cancer has grown or spread.
▸What is jaundice?
Jaundice is a yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes, often with dark urine and light stools. It can happen when a tumor blocks the bile duct, and it should be checked promptly.
▸When should I see a doctor?
See a doctor for jaundice, ongoing upper belly or back pain, unexplained weight loss, or new diabetes, especially if you have risk factors.
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