Abdominal pain or clay-coloured stools are among the main symptoms of pancreatic cancer
(Picture: Shutterstock)The Specials’ frontman Terry Hall on Tuesday died from pancreatic cancer at the age of 63.
Bassist Horace Panter detailed Hall’s final moments, revealing that they were planning to record a new album together in November before he fell ill.
Initially, it was believed to be a simple stomach bug, but later it transpired that it was pancreatic cancer which had spread to his liver.
Panter explained how Hall’s initial cancer treatment went well for the singer but he had begun to fade early this month.
“Reports are not good. Terry has lost a lot of weight and is very frail,” he wrote.
“His friend Ian Broudie [of The Lightning Seeds] visits and phones manager Steve. He fears that Terry is slipping away.”
Every year, about 375,000 new cases of pancreatic cancer are diagnosed in the UK, while about 166,500 people die from the disease.
It starts in the pancreas, which is a gland that produces digestive juices and hormones.
But what exactly are the early warning signs of pancreatic cancer?
It is vital that we find a solution to the gap in early diagnosis for pancreatic cancer.
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Join us on our mission to advance the early detection of #pancreaticcancer to transform the landscape of the disease. pic.twitter.com/Y6bJDn3rpz
What is pancreatic cancer?
Pancreatic cancer is the fifth-most deadly cancer in the UK.
The disease has one of the lowest survival rates among common cancers, with a meagre seven per cent of patients living for five years after their initial diagnosis.
This further reiterates the importance of spotting the early signs of the disease, which could be life-saving.
What are the early symptoms?
- Clay-coloured stools
- Jaundice
- Diabetes
- Abdominal pain
- Indigestion
- Weight loss
- Nausea and vomiting
- Feeling weak
- Non-cardiac chest pain
- Pain in shoulder
- Loss of appetite.
“Many of these symptoms are very common and can be caused by many different conditions,” the NHS says.
“Having them does not definitely mean you have pancreatic cancer. But it’s important to get them checked by a GP.”
