Pancreatic cancer is hard to diagnose so is often found too late. Are there any signs to watch for that might help get diagnosis earlier?

Thanks. I need to make an appointment. Really, Thanks for the concern and help.

Barb

Have had several family members with other cancers, but no pancreatic. It's a little embarassing but I have been having very light colored stools and it worries me. Thanks for your answers.

Barb

Hi craftybarb,

Thanks for your question. With Pancreatic Cancer, although not really preventable, you can make some changes in your lifestyle to help decrease your risk factors.

Risk Factors include:

Age: 40 or older
Sex: male
Smoking and using smokeless tobacco (eg, chewing tobacco) *¹
Diabetes
Chronic pancreatitis , hereditary pancreatitis, family nonpolyposis colon cancer syndrome
Family or personal history of certain types of colon polyps or colon cancer
Family history of pancreatic cancer (especially in Ashkenazi Jews with BRCA2 [breast cancer associated]) gene
High-fat diet

Symptoms:
Pancreatic cancer does not cause symptoms in its early stages. The cancer may grow for some time before it causes symptoms. When symptoms do appear, they may be very vague. In many cases, the cancer has spread outside the pancreas by the time it is discovered.

Symptoms will vary depending on the location and size of the tumor. Symptoms include:

Nausea
Loss of appetite
Unexplained weight loss
Pain—in the upper abdomen, sometimes spreading to the back (a result of the cancer growing and spreading)
Jaundice —yellowness of skin and whites of the eyes; dark urine (if the tumor blocks the common bile duct); tan stool or stool that floats to the top of the bowl.
Weakness, dizziness, chills, muscle spasms, diarrhea (especially if the cancer involves the islet cells that make insulin and other hormones)
These symptoms may also be caused by other, less serious health conditions. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should see a doctor.

For more info, please visit our Pancreatic Cancer page: https://www.empowher.com/condition/pancreatic-cancer/symptoms

Hope this helps,

Rosa