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It’s about time you knew the symptoms & risks
Symptoms
It’s important to remember that symptoms can be caused by more common things. They can also be caused by conditions such as pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), gallstones, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or hepatitis (inflammation of the liver).
Pain in the upper abdomen could be caused by a pancreatic tumor pushing against or invading nerves or organs near the pancreas.
Pain in the mid-back could be caused by a pancreatic tumor pushing against or invading nerves or organs near the pancreas.
Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice), caused by excess bilirubin (a component of bile) in the blood. Jaundice can also result in itchiness of the skin, abnormally dark urine, and light or clay-colored stools.
Unexplained weight loss can be an early symptom and can occur without any pain or apparent change in digestion.
Many pancreatic cancer patients experience diarrhea, constipation or both. Diarrhea consisting of loose, watery, oily or foul-smelling stools can be caused by insufficient amounts of pancreatic enzymes in the intestines.
Pancreatic cancer can decrease appetite or change the way food tastes.
This may include poor appetite, nausea and vomiting. It is common for pancreatic cancer to cause problems with eating and digesting food. Symptoms can include: feeling full quickly when eating, bloating, lots of wind, and burping.
New-onset diabetes in people over the age of 50, and a sudden change in blood sugar levels in diabetics who previously had well-controlled diabetes.
Risk factors
The cause of the majority of pancreatic cancer cases is unknown, but research studies have identified the following risk factors that may increase the likelihood that someone will develop pancreatic cancer.
You should seek guidance and support from a local World Pancreatic Cancer Coalition member organization or your doctor if you have questions about these risk factors or symptoms.
Inherited genetic mutations
Disorders being studied for connections to pancreatic cancer include: BRCA mutation, cystic fibrosis, familial adenomatous polyposis, familial atypical multiple mole melanoma, Lynch syndrome, hereditary pancreatitis, PALB2 mutation and Peutz-Jeghers syndrome.
Family history of pancreatic cancer
If a person has two or more first-degree relatives (mother, father, sibling or child) who have had pancreatic cancer, or a first-degree relative who developed pancreatic cancer before the age of 50, you may have an increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer.
Family history of other cancers
Risk of pancreatic cancer increases if there is a history of familial ovarian, breast, or colon cancer, hereditary pancreatitis or familial melanoma.
Diabetes
Pancreatic cancer is more likely to occur in people who have long-standing diabetes (more than 5 years). This can also be a symptom.
Pancreatitis (chronic and hereditary)
Chronic pancreatitis indicates an increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer. It’s even higher in individuals with hereditary pancreatitis.
Smoking
People who smoke cigarettes are two times more likely to develop pancreatic cancer than people who have never smoked.
Obesity
Obese people have a 20 percent increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer when compared with people who are of normal weight.
Race (ethnicity)
African Americans and Ashkenazi Jews have a higher incidence of pancreatic cancer when compared with individuals of Asian, Hispanic or Caucasian descent.
Age
The chances of developing pancreatic cancer increases with age. Most people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer are over the age of 60.
Diet
While more research is needed, a diet high in red and processed meats may increase the risk of developing pancreatic cancer. A diet high in fruits and vegetables may decrease the risk.
Inherited genetic mutations
Disorders being studied for connections to pancreatic cancer include: BRCA mutation, cystic fibrosis, familial adenomatous polyposis, familial atypical multiple mole melanoma, Lynch syndrome, hereditary pancreatitis, PALB2 mutation and Peutz-Jeghers syndrome.
Family history of pancreatic cancer
If a person has two or more first-degree relatives (mother, father, sibling or child) who have had pancreatic cancer, or a first-degree relative who developed pancreatic cancer before the age of 50, you may have an increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer.
Family history of other cancers
Risk of pancreatic cancer increases if there is a history of familial ovarian, breast, or colon cancer, hereditary pancreatitis or familial melanoma.
Diabetes
Pancreatic cancer is more likely to occur in people who have long-standing diabetes (more than 5 years). This can also be a symptom.
Pancreatitis (chronic and hereditary)
Chronic pancreatitis indicates an increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer. It’s even higher in individuals with hereditary pancreatitis.
Smoking
People who smoke cigarettes are two times more likely to develop pancreatic cancer than people who have never smoked.
Obesity
Obese people have a 20 percent increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer when compared with people who are of normal weight.
Race (ethnicity)
African Americans and Ashkenazi Jews have a higher incidence of pancreatic cancer when compared with individuals of Asian, Hispanic or Caucasian descent.
Age
The chances of developing pancreatic cancer increases with age. Most people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer are over the age of 60.
Diet
While more research is needed, a diet high in red and processed meats may increase the risk of developing pancreatic cancer. A diet high in fruits and vegetables may decrease the risk.
