There are no established early-warning signs for pancreatic cancer. Symptoms often do not appear until the tumor grows large enough to interfere with the function of the stomach, liver, or other nearby organs.
When symptoms occur, they are often so vague and nonspecific that they may be ignored. The first symptoms are typically pain (sometimes severe pain in the upper abdomen that can penetrate to the back) and weight loss. Because about 80 percent of pancreatic cancers occur in the head of the pancreas, where they can block the common bile duct, jaundice (a yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, often with general itchiness) is another frequent sign. Hepatitis and gallstones, however, can also obstruct the common bile duct and are much more common causes of jaundice.
Nausea, loss of appetite, unintended weight loss, pain in the upper or middle abdomen, and jaundice may be caused by other problems that are far less serious than pancreatic cancer. The appearance of any of these signs, however, warrants a medical examination.
