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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 hereas the symptoms can vary for each person.

Graphical depiction of the most common symptoms of pancreatic cancer. These are indigestion, tummy pain or back pain, changes to your poo, unexplained weight loss, loss of appetite, and jaundice, which is yellow eyes and skin and itching.

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.

What are the symptoms of pancreatic cancer?

Common symptoms include:

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Other symptoms you might get include:

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What should I do if I have symptoms?

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.

Questions to ask your GP


  • What could be causing these symptoms?
  • Are there any tests I should be referred for?
  • How long will I have to wait for tests?
  • If these symptoms don’t get better, how soon should I come back and see you?
  • Is there anything I can do to help with the symptoms?
  • Where can I get more information or support?

Personal experiences of symptoms

Quotemarks Created with Sketch.
Quotemarks Created with Sketch.

''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.’’

Quotemarks Created with Sketch.
Quotemarks Created with Sketch.

''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.’’

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