In the UK alone, there are an estimated 10,500 new pancreatic cancer cases each year - that's 29 cases per day.
Unfortunately, survival rates for the disease have not shown much improvement in the last 40 years - with only one in four people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in England surviving their disease for one year or more.
However, receiving a diagnosis early is essential in helping treat the disease and prepare for your future. But what are the warning signs of pancreatic cancer, and when should you seek professional help?
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Pancreatic cancer symptoms
According to Cancer Research UK, symptoms of pancreatic cancer can be vague and won't usually show in the early stages.
"The symptoms vary depending on where the cancer is in the pancreas (in the head, body or tail of the pancreas)," the charity states. "Most pancreatic cancers start in the cells that produce digestive juices and are called exocrine tumours. The most common type of pancreatic cancer is called adenocarcinoma".
The NHS states the most common pancreatic cancer symptoms include:
- The whites of your eyes or your skin turn yellow (jaundice), you may also have itchy skin, darker pee and paler poo than usual
- Loss of appetite or losing weight without trying to
- Feeling tired or having no energy
- A high temperature, or feeling hot or shivery
Other symptoms can affect your digestion, such as:
- Feeling or being sick
- Diarrhoea or constipation, or other changes in your poo
- Pain at the top part of your tummy and your back, which may feel worse when you are eating or lying down and better when you lean forward
- Symptoms of indigestion, such as feeling bloated
Cancer Research reports that nearly 70 percent of people with pancreatic cancer visit their doctors due to pain - which is more common in cancers of the body and tail of the pancreas.
"People describe it as a dull pain that feels as if it is boring into you," the organisation explains. "It can begin in the stomach area and spread around to the back. The pain is worse when you lie down and is better if you sit forward. It can be worse after meals.
"Some people may only have back pain. This is often felt in the middle of the back, and is persistent".
When to get help
The NHS recommends seeking advice by calling their non-urgent helpline on 111 if the whites of your eyes or skin turn yellow, if you're being sick for more than two days, or if you have diarrhoea for more than a week.
If, however, you have lost a noticeable amount of weight in the last six-12 months, without purposely dieting, or have symptoms of pancreatic cancer that have worsened or not improved after two weeks (including a condition that affects your digestions) you should see a GP.
The charity Pancreatic Cancer UK run a free, confidential support line for anyone affected by the disease. It’s specialist nurses can answer your questions, recommend practical steps and provide emotional support. Call 0808 801 0707 between 10am and 4pm, Monday to Friday.
