The public is being warned of two signs of pancreatic cancer that can be spotted earlier, despite it being known as a “silent disease”.
The cancer was brought into the spotlight again recently due to the death of Jerry Springer, who had been diagnosed with the disease months ago.
Pancreatic cancer has one of the lowest 10-year survival rates of any cancer, with just five per cent of people with the disease surviving for more than a decade after the diagnosis.
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As the mortality rate for the disease is so high, knowing all the symptoms is crucial. However, the type of cancer is known as a silent disease due to symptoms typically not showing up in the early stages.
Pancreatic cancer is more likely for those aged over 75 and is not common for people under 40, according to the NHS.
Researchers, in a study last year, have identified two unrecognised early symptoms that people can look out for helping doctors to better diagnose the disease.
Jaundice, which is the yellowing of the skin as well as bleeding in the stomach or intestine were both seen as the two most serious symptoms associated with the disease.
Now though, researchers have found two other lesser-known and unrecognised warning signs of pancreatic cancer are increased thirst and dark yellow urine.
Dr Weiqi Liao, data scientist at the University of Oxford, said: “When pancreatic cancer is diagnosed earlier, patients have a higher chance of survival.
“It is possible to diagnose patients when they visit their GP, but both patients and GPs need to be aware of the symptoms associated with pancreatic cancer.”
Dr Pippa Corrie, chair of the pancreatic workstream of the NCRI Upper Gastrointestinal Group and Consultant Medical Oncologist at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, UK, added: “Being aware of the early symptoms of pancreatic cancer is crucial if we are to diagnose patients earlier and improve pancreatic cancer survival.
“This research could help GPs and their patients know more about the signs of pancreatic cancer. It’s vital that people speak to their GP if they notice these symptoms.”
List of symptoms
There was a long list of other symptoms that were also found in the study last year. They included:
- Problems swallowing
- Diarrhoea
- Change in bowel habits
- Vomiting
- Indigestion
- Abdominal mass
- Abdominal pain
- Weight loss
- Constipation
- Fat in stool
- Abdominal swelling
- Nausea
- Flatulence
- Heartburn
- Fever
- Tiredness
- Appetite loss
- Itching
- Back pain
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