What are the symptoms of pancreatic cancer ?

Pancreatic cancer is often considered a silent disease. In its early stages, it may not cause any signs or symptoms. The signs and symptoms typically appear when the tumor grows.

Some signs may be so vague that they can initially be overlooked. These signs may include :

• Fatigue
• Significant loss of appetite (anorexia) associated with rapid and significant weight loss
• Severe abdominal pain, sometimes intense in 80% of cases. It is suggestive if the pain radiates to the back
• Nausea or vomiting
• Difficulty digesting food
• A feeling of fullness after a light meal
• Bloating
• Flatulence (gas)
• Diarrhea or constipation
• Fatty stools (steatorrhea) that are large, pale, and float in the toilet
• Dark urine
• Yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes, known as jaundice or icterus
• Itching
• Fever and chills

Many of these symptoms are non-specific to pancreatic cancer and may be caused by another condition, which complicates the diagnosis.