Heartburn and itchy skin: Would YOU recognise the symptoms of pancreatic cancer?

Today is World Pancreatic Cancer Day

ON WORLD Pancreatic Cancer Day, find out how to spot the symptoms of the disease that kills at least 20 people in the UK every day.

 

Around 8,800 people in the UK get pancreatic cancer each year. It’s the 10th most common form of cancer in the UK - and the country’s fifth most common cause of cancer death.

Over the last decade, pancreatic cancer incidence rates have increased by almost a tenth (8%) in the UK.

 

Pancreatic cancer is more common in older people. Almost half of all new cases are diagnosed in people aged 75 and over. Pancreatic cancer is rare in those under 40 years old.

Around 8,700 people in the UK died from pancreatic cancer in 2012 - that's nearly 24 people every day.

 

The pancreas is a large gland that performs two important jobs in the body. The first is to produce pancreatic digestive juices. The second is to produce insulin and other hormones to do with digestion. The part of the pancreas which produces the digestive juices is called the exocrine pancreas. The part of the pancreas which produces hormones, including insulin, is called the endocrine pancreas. 

The cancers that develop from these two different parts of the pancreas can behave differently and can cause different symptoms depending on where the cancer is in your pancreas - in the head, body or tail. 

 

Around 8,800 people in the UK get pancreatic cancer each year

 

So what are the symptoms and how can you spot them?

There are two common types of cancer that present symptoms, these are known as exocrine tumours. 

The pancreas is a large gland that performs two important jobs in the body. The first is to produce pancreatic digestive juices. The second is to produce insulin and other hormones to do with digestion. The part of the pancreas which produces the digestive juices is called the exocrine pancreas. The part of the pancreas which produces hormones, including insulin, is called the endocrine pancreas. 

The cancers that develop from these two different parts of the pancreas can behave differently and can cause different symptoms depending on where the cancer is in your pancreas - in the head, body or tail. 

 

Common symptoms of exocrine tumours include:

• Pain in the stomach area or back: About 7 out of 10 people with pancreatic cancer first go to their doctors because they have pain. People describe it as a dull pain that feels as if it is boring into you. 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.
• Jaundice: About half of patients have jaundice when they first go to their doctors. Most of these people will have pain as well. Jaundice is yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes. The urine is darker than normal and bowel motions may be lighter in colour. Jaundice is a common symptom of many liver and gallbladder diseases.
• Weight loss: People diagnosed with pancreatic cancer may have recently lost a lot of weight for no apparent reason. 



Pancreatic cancer is more common in people 75 years and over



There are other symptoms that you can have with cancer of the pancreas. You may have any of these symptoms from before you are diagnosed - or you may develop them later. You may not have all of them. 

These non specific symptoms include:

• Diabetes: Some people diagnosed with cancer of the pancreas are found to be newly diabetic. 
• Itching: You may have itching if you have bad jaundice. The increased bile salts in the bloodstream cause itching in the skin. 

Jaundice is a symptom of pancreatic cancer

• Bowel changes: If your pancreatic duct is blocked, you may develop a symptom called steatorrhoea. This means fatty stools (poo). You may pass frequent, large bowel motions that are pale coloured and smelly.
• Fever and shivering: You may have a temperature from time to time because you have jaundice or an inflamed pancreas. When your temperature is high you may feel cold and shivery.
• Persistent indigestion: Indigestion causes heartburn, bloating and sickness. It is a common problem and for most people it isn't a sign of cancer. But if it is persistent or isn't getting better with medication, you should go back to see your doctor.
• Blood clots: Occasionally, pancreatic cancer is linked to blood clots. They may form in the deep veins in the legs for example, or in smaller veins anywhere on the body.

 

Pancreatic cancer symptoms can often be vague - you should see your GP if you are at all concerned. 

Remember: the earlier a cancer is picked up, the easier it is to treat it and the more likely the treatment is to be successful. So it is important that you go to your GP as soon as possible if you notice worrying symptoms.