What were your first signs of pancreatic cancer?

When symptoms of a pancreatic tumor first appear, they most commonly include jaundice, or a yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes, which is caused by an excess of bilirubin—a dark, yellow-brown substance made by the liver. Sudden weight loss is also a common early warning sign of pancreatic cancer.

How do you check to see if you have pancreatic cancer?

Computed tomography (CT) scan The CT scan makes detailed cross-sectional images of your body. CT scans are often used to diagnose pancreatic cancer because they can show the pancreas fairly clearly. They can also help show if cancer has spread to organs near the pancreas, as well as to lymph nodes and distant organs.

Where do you feel pain if you have pancreatic cancer?

Stomach and Back Pain A common symptom of pancreatic cancer is a dull pain in the upper abdomen (belly) and/or middle or upper back that comes and goes. This is probably caused by a tumor that has formed in the body or tail of the pancreas because it can press on the spine.

What age should you get tested for pancreatic cancer?

Current guidelines recommend that healthy individuals from FPC families should consider pancreatic cancer screening beginning at age 50, or 10 years younger than the earliest pancreatic cancer diagnosis in the family, if at least 1 of the pancreatic cancers in their family was in a first-degree relative.

How do you get tested for pancreatic cancer early?

For people in families at high risk of pancreatic cancer, newer tests for detecting pancreatic cancer early may help. The two most common tests used are an endoscopic ultrasound or MRI.

What are the symptoms and signs of pancreatic cancer?

Signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer often don’t occur until the disease is advanced. They may include: Pain in the upper abdomen that radiates to your back. Loss of appetite or unintended weight loss. Depression. New-onset diabetes. Blood clots.

What are the earliest signs of pancreatic cancer?

Early warning signs of pancreatic cancer. When symptoms of a pancreatic tumor first appear, they most commonly include jaundice , or a yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes, which is caused by an excess of bilirubin—a dark, yellow-brown substance made by the liver.

What should you expect if you have pancreatic cancer?

As pancreatic cancer progresses, it can cause complications such as: Weight loss. A number of factors may cause weight loss in people with pancreatic cancer. Jaundice. Pancreatic cancer that blocks the liver’s bile duct can cause jaundice. Pain. A growing tumor may press on nerves in your abdomen, causing pain that can become severe. Bowel obstruction.

What are the final stages of pancreatic cancer?

The final stages of pancreatic cancer are Stage III and Stage IV. In the final stages, the cancer has spread outside the pancreas to major vessels, lymph nodes and other organs of the body.