Pancreatic cancer symptoms

Pancreatic cancer symptoms are often vague and difficult to associate with the pancreas. This makes early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer difficult.

What pancreatic cancer symptoms should I watch for?

Pancreatic cancer symptoms are subtle. Early on, they're difficult to tell apart from common aches and pains.

Contact your doctor if you're concerned about symptoms like these:

• upper abdominal pain ?
• pain in the upper or middle back
• jaundice ?
• decreased appetite ?
• unintentional weight loss ?
• bloating or indigestion ?
• dark urine and light-colored stools
• nausea and vomiting ?
• fatigue. ?

Abdominal pain

Abdominal pain is pain that you feel anywhere between your chest and groin.

Learn more about abdominal pain in our health encyclopedia.

Jaundice

Jaundice is a yellow color in the skin, the mucous membranes, or the eyes.

Learn more about jaundice in our health encyclopedia.

Decreased appetite

Appetite is the desire to eat. A decreased appetite is when you have a reduced desire to eat.

Learn more about decreased appetite in our health encyclopedia.

Unintentional weight loss

Unintentional weight loss is a decrease in body weight that is not voluntary.

Learn more about unintentional weight loss in our health encyclopedia.

Indigestion

Indigestion is a vague feeling of abdominal discomfort -- possibly including belching, heartburn, a feeling of fullness, bloating, and nausea.

Learn more about indigestion in our health encyclopedia.

Nausea and vomiting

Nausea is the sensation of having an urge to vomit. Vomiting is forcing the contents of the stomach up through the esophagus and out of the mouth.

Learn more about nausea and vomiting in our health encyclopedia.

Fatigue

Fatigue is a feeling of weariness, tiredness, or lack of energy.

Learn more about fatigue in our health encyclopedia.

Pancreatic cancer diagnosis

When they suspect a tumor of the pancreas, our doctors work systematically to confirm whether it is cancer.

Pancreatic cancer diagnosis involves a number of tests.

Pancreas protocol CT

This CT scan of the pancreas and liver shows the location of the tumor, how it affects blood vessels and tissues, and if it has spread (metastasized).

CT scan

A computed tomography (CT) scan is an imaging method that uses x-rays to create cross-sectional pictures of the body.

Learn more about CT scans in our health encyclopedia.

In some cases, an abdominal MRI scan may be done instead of a CT scan.

Abdominal MRI scan

A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of the abdomen is a noninvasive method to create detailed pictures of the inside of the belly area.

Learn more about abdominal MRI scans in our health encyclopedia.

Endoscopic ultrasound

Endoscopic ultrasound helps determine pancreatic cancer stages and whether a tumor involves blood vessels.

Endoscopic ultrasound

An endoscopic ultrasound exam allows your doctor to see if there is anything abnormal in your digestive tract (esophagus, stomach and upper small bowel) and other organs in this area.

Learn more about endoscopic ultrasounds.

It is also a safe way to get samples of tumor tissue and lymph nodes to test for cancer (biopsy).

Biopsy - biliary tract

A biliary tract biopsy is a procedure that involves taking a sample of tissue or material from the duodenum, bile ducts, pancreas, or pancreatic duct.

Learn more about biopsy in our health encyclopedia.

Endoscopic ultrasound can be used for a safe biopsy of the pancreas and can help deliver a celiac axis block to relieve pain caused by pancreatic cancer.

Biliary tract biopsy

Biliary tract biopsy refers to obtaining a sample of tissue or material from the bile ducts, pancreas or any other part of the biliary tract.

Biopsy - biliary tract

A biliary tract biopsy is a procedure that involves taking a sample of tissue or material from the duodenum, bile ducts, pancreas, or pancreatic duct.

Learn more about biopsy in our health encyclopedia.

The sample goes to a pathologist in a medical laboratory who tests it for cancer.

Pathology

Within the medical laboratory, our specialists detect the cause and nature of many health problems. They examine cells, body fluids and tissue samples as they help diagnose and treat disease.

Spyglass intraductal endoscopy

Spyglass is available at a few centers in the country. It helps doctors see the inside of a pancreatic duct and, if needed, do a biopsy.

Biopsy - biliary tract

A biliary tract biopsy is a procedure that involves taking a sample of tissue or material from the duodenum, bile ducts, pancreas, or pancreatic duct.

Learn more about biopsy in our health encyclopedia.

This can make clear how much surgery is needed to remove a tumor.

Diagnostic laparoscopy

Laparoscopy is "keyhole" surgery that allows doctors to see inside the abdomen through tiny incisions of 5 to 10 millimeters. This can reveal tumors that are too small to be found by other tests.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with stent

ECRP treats pancreatic tumors that are blocking the bile ducts.

ECRP

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is a procedure used to identify stones, tumors, or narrowing in the bile ducts. The procedure is done through an endoscope.

Learn more about ECRP in our health encyclopedia.

ERCP is important in controlling jaundice seen with cancer of the head of the pancreas and bile duct. Sometimes during ERCP, a stent – a plastic or metal tube – is used to open the bile duct. This can help relieve symptoms like pain, poor digestion or itching.

• Plastic stents are temporary. They help relieve symptoms until surgery is done to remove the tumor.
• Metal stents stay open longer. They're more appropriate for people who do not qualify for pancreatic surgery.

PET scan

PET scan (positronic emission tomography) uses radioactive glucose to find cells that grow and divide rapidly – like cancer. The use of PET in staging pancreatic cancer is evolving.

PET scan

A positron emission tomography (PET) scan is an imaging test that uses a radioactive substance (called a tracer) to look for disease in the body.

Learn more about PET scan in our health encyclopedia.

Pancreatic cancer risk factors

What should I know about pancreatic cancer?

There's no sure way to prevent pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic carcinoma is cancer of the pancreas.

Learn more about pancreatic cancer in our health encyclopedia.

But it is good to know what might put you at risk – and do something about the factors you can control.

Pancreatic cancer risk factors you can control:

• Smoking cigarettes can double your chances of pancreatic cancer. Smoking also puts you at risk for many other diseases.
• Heavy exposure to pesticides, dyes and chemicals for a long time at work might cause pancreatic cancer.
• Being very overweight and not getting much physical activity may increase the likelihood of pancreatic cancer and other health problems.


Overweight

Nearly two-thirds of the United States population is overweight.

Learn more about what it means to be overweight in our health encyclopedia.



Physical activity

Physical activity is any activity that causes your body to work harder than normal.

Learn more about physical activity in our health encyclopedia.

• High-fat diets with a lot of red meat, pork and processed meat might cause pancreatic cancer, according to some studies. Other studies say diets high in fruits and vegetables might prevent pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer risk factors you cannot control:

• People over the age of 60 have the most cases of pancreatic cancer.
• More men than women are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
• If your mother, father, sister or brother had pancreatic cancer, your risk of getting the disease triples. African Americans are more likely than Asians, Hispanics or whites to get pancreatic cancer.
• Conditions like diabetes and chronic pancreatitis have been connected to pancreatic cancer risks.


Diabetes

Diabetes is a lifelong disease that cannot be cured, but it can be controlled.

Diabetes overview



Chronic pancreatitis

Chronic pancreatitis is swelling (inflammation) of the pancreas that leads to scarring and loss of function.

Learn more about chronic pancreatitis in our health encyclopedia.