This page lists the symptoms of pancreatic cancer, and explains what to do if you are worried about any of these symptoms.
Pancreatic cancer affects men and women in the same way. Someone with pancreatic cancer may not have all the symptoms listed here, as the symptoms can vary for each person.
Pancreatic cancer often doesn’t cause symptoms in the early stages. As the cancer grows, it may start to cause symptoms. The symptoms may not be specific to pancreatic cancer, and they may come and go to begin with. This can make pancreatic cancer hard to diagnose.
These symptoms can be caused by lots of things other than pancreatic cancer. If you are feeling unwell and you have any of the symptoms on this page, speak to your GP to check if there is anything wrong.
The information here is about the most common type of pancreatic cancer, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Rarer pancreatic neuroendocrine cancers (also called pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours or pancreatic NETs) may cause some of these symptoms, as well as other symptoms.
Indigestion causes a painful, burning feeling in your chest. It can also leave a bitter, unpleasant taste in your mouth.
Indigestion can be a symptom of pancreatic cancer, but it can also be a symptom of more common problems and not due to pancreatic cancer. Speak to your GP if you get indigestion a lot, especially if you have any of the other symptoms here.
Tummy pain or back pain, or sometimes both, are common symptoms of pancreatic cancer. The pain may start as general discomfort or tenderness in the tummy area and spread to the back.
Some people have no pain at all, and pain can vary from person to person. For example, it may come and go at first but become more constant over time. It can be worse when lying down. Sitting forward can sometimes make it feel better. It may be worse after eating.
If you have lost weight without meaning to and have tummy or back pain, your GP should refer you for an urgent CT scan or ultrasound scan within 2 weeks.
Pancreatic cancer can cause diarrhoea (runny poo) and constipation (when you find it harder to poo). If you have diarrhoea for more than 7 days and you don’t know why, call NHS 111 or your GP. If you have lost weight and have diarrhoea or constipation, your GP should refer you for an urgent CT scan or ultrasound scan within 2 weeks.
Pancreatic cancer can also cause pale, oily poo. This is called steatorrhoea. Poo may be large, bulky, smell horrible, and may float and be difficult to flush down the toilet. This is caused by fat in the poo. It happens if pancreatic cancer has affected your digestion, so that fat in your food isn’t digested properly.
Losing a lot of weight without meaning to can be a symptom of pancreatic cancer. The pancreas plays an important role in digesting food and controlling your blood sugar levels. Pancreatic cancer can affect this and cause weight loss.
If you have lost weight and don’t know why, you should see your GP to find out what is causing this.
Your GP should refer you to have an urgent CT scan within 2 weeks if you have lost weight and have any of the following symptoms:
If a CT scan isn’t available, you may be sent for an ultrasound scan.
Signs of jaundice include yellow skin and eyes. Yellow skin may be less obvious if you have brown or black skin, but you may notice the white part of your eyes looks yellow. You can see photographs of jaundice on the NHS website.
Jaundice can also cause dark pee, pale poo and itchy skin. Some people also feel sick, lose weight, lose their appetite, or feel tired.
Pancreatic cancer can cause jaundice by blocking the bile duct. The bile duct is the tube that takes bile from the liver to the duodenum (the first part of the small intestine). Bile is a fluid made by the liver to help digest food.
Jaundice can be caused by other non-cancerous conditions such as gallstones and hepatitis (inflammation of the liver), or other cancers.
If you think you have jaundice, go to your GP or A&E straight away.
Losing your appetite and not feeling like eating can be a symptom of pancreatic cancer, but it can also be caused by other things. Speak to your GP if you have lost your appetite and you don’t know why.
Diabetes is a condition where the amount of sugar in the blood (blood sugar level) is too high. The pancreas produces a hormone called insulin, which helps to control the blood sugar level.
Pancreatic cancer can stop the pancreas producing enough insulin, which can cause diabetes.
Symptoms of diabetes include:
Speak to your GP if you have been diagnosed with diabetes in the last 6-12 months and have any other symptoms listed on this page. You should also speak to your GP if you have diabetes that has become more difficult to control recently.
Your GP should refer you for an urgent CT scan within 2 weeks if you have lost weight and have been diagnosed with diabetes recently.
The pancreas plays an important role in breaking down food (digestion). It’s common for pancreatic cancer to cause problems with eating and digesting food.
Symptoms of this include feeling full up quickly when you eat, a bloated tummy, lots of wind, and burping. But these symptoms can be common problems and aren’t usually due to pancreatic cancer.
Pancreatic cancer can make you feel sick or be sick (nausea and vomiting). If you are being sick for more than 2 days and you don’t know why, call NHS 111 or go to A&E.
If you have lost weight without meaning to and have nausea or vomiting, your GP should refer you for an urgent CT scan or an ultrasound scan within 2 weeks.
Pancreatic cancer can cause blood to form clots in a vein. This is known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Blood clots often happen in your lower leg, but they can happen anywhere in your arms or legs.
Some people don’t get any symptoms of blood clots. Other people may have some pain, swelling or redness in the area of the clot, and the affected area might feel warm to touch. If you have any of these symptoms it’s important to speak to your GP straight away. These symptoms can be caused by other things, but it’s worth having them checked.
Sometimes, part of a blood clot can break off and travel to the lungs, where it can cause a blockage. This is called a pulmonary embolism (PE). This is serious and may cause sudden shortness of breath or chest pain. It’s important to see a GP if you have these symptoms. Or go to A&E if you can’t get in touch with your GP.
Fatigue is when you feel very tired all the time, even if you rest. It can be exhausting and draining.
If you have fatigue and you don’t know why, speak to your GP about what may be causing it and if there is anything that can help.
There are also some less common symptoms of pancreatic cancer. These include a fever, shivering, and generally feeling unwell or not quite right. Some people also feel like they can’t swallow their food properly. This may be because the cancer can make you feel full quickly when you eat. Depression and anxiety without any obvious cause may also be a symptom.
If you have jaundice, go to your GP or A&E straight away.
If you have any of the other symptoms and you don’t know why you have them, go to your GP or contact NHS 111. NHS 111 will give you advice and arrange for you to talk to a doctor if you need to.
Give the GP or NHS 111 a good description of your symptoms. Mention anything unusual, even if you are not sure if it’s relevant. Read more about visiting your GP. You might find our tips for talking to your GP helpful.
It’s important to remember that having these symptoms doesn’t always mean that you have pancreatic cancer, but you should get them checked out. These symptoms can be caused by more common things, or health conditions such as pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), stomach ulcer, gallstones, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and hepatitis (inflammation of the liver). They can also sometimes be signs of other cancers, so you should always get them checked out.
If your symptoms get worse or you develop any new symptoms, you should always see your GP. If your symptoms don’t improve, go back to your GP and ask for tests to find out if there is any condition causing them. You could keep a diary of your symptoms to show the GP.
''My stools were pale and refused to flush. I didn't think much of it as I didn't feel unwell at all, but I decided to go and see the doctor just to be sure.’’
''I realised I was losing weight a lot quicker than I had expected, and I began to be concerned. I had also noticed my urine was getting very dark and I had a pain in my back, and my stools really weren’t normal – I just knew something wasn’t right.’’
Download our fact sheet to read more about the signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer.
You can also order free leaflets and posters to raise awareness about the symptoms of pancreatic cancer.
If you would like the references to the sources used to write this information, email us at publications@pancreaticcancer.org.uk
We would like to thank the following people who reviewed our information on symptoms.
Updated September 2022
Review date September 2024
