Pancreatic Cancer: Subtle Signs You Should Never Overlook

Deep in the upper abdomen, tucked behind the stomach, sits the pancreas — a hardworking gland that quietly produces vital digestive enzymes and hormones. Yet when cancer begins here, it often grows unnoticed. Pancreatic cancer is the tenth most common cancer in the UK, but tragically, it’s rarely detected early because symptoms stay hidden until the disease has already advanced.

When signs finally appear, they can be vague, easily mistaken for everyday digestive issues. Much depends on where the tumour develops — the head, body, or tail of the pancreas — but most cases involve ductal adenocarcinoma, a type that starts in the cells creating digestive juices.

One of the earliest red flags is abdominal or back pain. It may come and go at first, often worsening after meals, then becoming more constant as the tumour grows. Jaundice is another key sign. When a tumour blocks the bile duct, bilirubin builds up, turning the skin and eyes yellow.

Unexplained weight loss is common, as is digestive trouble — oily, foul-smelling stools, diarrhoea, constipation, and steatorrhoea, all linked to the pancreas struggling to produce enzymes. Some people even develop sudden-onset diabetes due to disrupted insulin production.

Other symptoms include persistent fatigue, itchy skin, blood clots, and episodes of fever or shivering, especially when jaundice or inflammation is present.

While the exact cause of pancreatic cancer remains unclear, factors such as age, smoking, obesity, and genetics can raise the risk.

Pancreatic cancer can be silent, but your body rarely is. Paying attention to small changes could mean catching something serious sooner. Always seek medical advice if symptoms linger or worsen.