Pancreatic cancer symptoms and risks

Pancreatic cancer accounts for about 3% of all cancers in the United States. It affects slightly more men than women and may go undiagnosed for many years. That’s because pancreatic cancer often doesn’t cause any symptoms in the early stages. When symptoms do show up, they may be mild and easily confused with other conditions.

Early detection and treatment are crucial for people with pancreatic cancer. By knowing the signs and understanding your risk, you can improve your chances for catching pancreatic cancer early, when it’s more treatable.

Pancreatic cancer symptoms

Pancreatic cancer has no clear early symptoms. The following symptoms can occur with pancreatic cancer but may also be a sign of something else.

• Dark urine, pale stools and yellow skin and eyes from jaundice (without pain)
• Nausea and vomiting
• Pain in the middle part of your back that doesn’t go away when you shift your position
• Pain in the upper part of your belly unrelated to eating or drinking
• Stools that float in the toilet

Advanced cancer also can cause:

• Loss of appetite or feelings of fullness
• Weakness or feeling very tired
• Weight loss for no known reason

If you have these symptoms, call your doctor or make an appointment with The University of Kansas Cancer Center.

We don’t know the exact cause of pancreatic cancer. We do know that people with certain risk factors may be more likely to get it.

Risk factors for pancreatic cancer

• Being overweight
• Drinking alcohol
• Having inflammation of the pancreas, known as pancreatitis
• Smoking tobacco
• A family history of pancreatic cancer

Some risk factors for pancreatic cancer can be controlled, such as quitting smoking. Others, however, aren’t controllable. While it’s important to make healthy lifestyle choices, remember that pancreatic cancer can happen on its own for reasons that aren’t clearly understood.