Pancreatic cancer is often called a “silent killer” because early tumors rarely cause clear warning signs. Symptoms usually appear only after the cancer has grown large or spread, but the following clues should never be ignored:
- Upper-abdominal or back pain
A dull ache or pressure that starts deep in the upper abdomen and radiates to the mid-back is common. The pain may worsen after eating or when lying flat and does not respond to usual back-care measures. - Unexplained weight loss and early satiety
Patients frequently notice a rapid drop in body weight without dieting. They feel full after a few bites because the tumor can compress the stomach or alter digestion. - Loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting
A sudden dislike of food, repeated queasiness, or occasional vomiting may signal that the tumor is blocking part of the digestive tract or interfering with enzyme production. - Jaundice (yellow skin and eyes)
When the tumor obstructs the bile duct, bilirubin builds up, causing yellow discoloration of the skin and sclera, dark tea-colored urine, clay-colored stools, and often intense itching. - Changes in stool and urine
Pale, greasy, floating stools and persistently dark urine suggest blocked bile flow or poor fat absorption. - New-onset diabetes or worsening glucose control
If the cancer damages insulin-producing cells, blood-sugar levels can rise suddenly in previously non-diabetic adults, especially after age 50. - Fatigue and low-grade fever
Persistent tiredness unrelated to activity, sometimes accompanied by a slight fever, can reflect systemic inflammation or occult infection. - Enlarged gallbladder or liver (occasional)
A physician may feel a painless, distended gallbladder below the right rib cage or detect hepatomegaly, both hinting at bile-duct obstruction.
Because these complaints overlap with many benign conditions, any combination that lasts more than a few weeks, especially in people over 50 or with a family history of pancreatic cancer, deserves prompt imaging (CT or MRI) and laboratory evaluation.
| Symptom | Typical Features | Red-flag Clues |
|---|---|---|
| Abdominal/back pain | Deep, gnawing, radiates to mid-back | Worse lying flat, unrelieved by rest |
| Weight loss | >5 % body mass in 1–2 months | No dieting or increased exercise |
| Jaundice | Yellow skin/sclera, dark urine, pale stools | Often painless, accompanied by itching |
| Digestive upset | Anorexia, nausea, early fullness | Persistent, progressive |
| New diabetes | Sudden hyperglycaemia age ≥50 | No prior risk factors |
| Fatigue | Daily exhaustion, low-grade fever | Out of proportion to activity |