Pancreatic cancer is one of the more serious and deadly types of cancer, even though it doesn’t get as much attention as some others. It accounts for about three percent of all cancers in the U.S., but it causes around eight percent of all cancer-related deaths. It tends to be more common in women than in men.
One of the reasons pancreatic cancer is so dangerous is because it often doesn’t show clear symptoms in the early stages. By the time people start noticing something is wrong, the disease has often already spread, making it much harder to treat.
Some of the more common signs that show up as the cancer progresses include pain in the stomach or back, yellowing of the skin or eyes (which happens because of jaundice), unexplained weight loss, and changes in bowel movements. For instance, a man named Lee Rawlinson from the UK felt a dull ache in his stomach and thought it was just stress, but he was later diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer. He now encourages others not to ignore even mild symptoms, especially abdominal pain.
There are also some lesser-known symptoms that people don’t usually connect with pancreatic cancer, but that can still be important warning signs. These include things like indigestion, feeling sick, new or worsening diabetes, itching, fever, or chills.
One red flag symptom that might surprise people is the development of blood clots—especially in the leg. When a blood clot forms in a deep vein, usually in the leg, it’s called deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Pancreatic cancer can sometimes cause this to happen. People may notice swelling, pain, redness, or warmth in the affected area. And in some cases, the clot might move or come back in a different part of the body.
Even on their own, blood clots can be dangerous and life-threatening. If a clot travels to the lungs, it can cause a blockage, known as a pulmonary embolism. That can lead to symptoms like breathlessness, chest pain, coughing up blood, or upper back pain. If any of these signs appear, it’s important to seek medical help immediately.
Basically, even symptoms that seem unrelated to the pancreas—like pain or swelling in the leg—could be connected to something much more serious going on inside the body. The key message from doctors and cancer experts is to pay attention to your body and don’t ignore symptoms that seem unusual or don’t go away. Early detection could make a big difference.
