The Mayo Clinic reports that the pancreas is a large organ that lies horizontally next to the lower part of the stomach. The National Cancer Institute estimates that 29,000 people each year are diagnosed with cancer of the pancreas. Pancreatic cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Though there are symptoms associated with pancreatic cancer, Merck Manuals, an online medical encyclopedia, reports that the symptoms of pancreatic cancer are not often detectable until the cancer is quite progressed.
Jaundice
The National Cancer Institute reports that one symptom of pancreatic cancer is jaundice. According to the American Cancer Society, jaundice is a condition in which the chemical bilirubin builds up in the blood stream. Bilirubin is normally processed by the liver, and then excreted into bile, where it travels from the common bile duct into the intestines. Many cancers of the pancreas block the common bile duct, causing the levels of bilirubin to rise. The National Cancer Institute reports that symptoms of jaundice resulting from cancer of the pancreas include yellowing of the skin and of the whites of the eyes. Furthermore, the urine becomes abnormally dark.
Pain
Merck Manuals reports that most patients with pancreatic cancer have severe pain in their upper abdomen. This pain may radiate from the abdomen toward the back. Bending forward or curling up into the fetal position may relieve the intensity of the pain.
Weight Loss
According to the National Cancer Institute, weight loss is a common symptom experienced by pancreatic cancer patients. Patients may feel fatigued and uncomfortable, and may not feel like eating. Symptoms of pancreatic cancer that may ultimately result in weight loss include loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and changes in the way food tastes.
Other Possible Symptoms
Other possible symptoms of pancreatic cancer, as detailed by Merck Manuals, include obstruction of the vein feeding the spleen, which causes splenomegaly (enlargement of the spleen); gastric and esophageal varices (enlargement of the veins in the gastrointestinal [GI] tract or the esophagus that may cause bleeding in the GI tract); diabetes, and the health complications that result from diabetes. In fact, Merck Manuals reports that 25 to 50 percent of people with pancreatic cancer ultimately develop diabetes.
