Pancreatic cancer symptoms and treatment side effects include pain, tiredness, digestive problems, changes to your poo, diabetes, feeling and being sick and jaundice. Not everyone will get the same symptoms or side effects.
Your doctor and nurse should regularly check how you are coping with any symptoms or side effects. There are ways to manage these, which can improve how you feel, both physically and emotionally.
It’s important that you tell your doctor or nurse about any symptoms or side effects. The sooner symptoms are treated, the better you will feel. If you are having chemotherapy, call the 24 hour emergency number you will be given if you have any side effects.
Pancreatic cancer can cause digestion problems, such as losing weight, indigestion, tummy pain, or diarrhoea. Pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) can help.
There are painkillers and other treatments for pain. Ask your doctor or nurse for help with any pain as soon as possible.
Extreme tiredness (fatigue) is a common symptom. There are things that can help, like planning your time and balancing rest with activity.
Call, email or WhatsApp our specialist nurses with your questions about managing symptoms.
We have videos to help you understand how symptoms can be managed. There are videos about diet, sickness, bowel problems, jaundice, fatigue, pain and diabetes.
Pancreatic cancer and surgery to remove the cancer can cause a type of diabetes called type 3c diabetes. It can be treated with tablets or insulin injections.
Speak to your doctor or nurse if you have symptoms of jaundice, like yellow skin and eyes. It’s important that it is treated.
You may notice changes to your poo, including diarrhoea and constipation. Your doctor or nurse can help to manage them.
Chemotherapy can cause side effects including infections, fatigue, diarrhoea and feeling and being sick. You may not get all these, and there are ways to manage them.
Dealing with pancreatic cancer is hard, but there is support available and things that can help.
Feeling and being sick are common if you have pancreatic cancer. There are ways to manage this, including anti-sickness medicines.
A blood clot in a vein is called deep vein thrombosis (DVT). If it is in the lungs it is a pulmonary embolism. People with pancreatic cancer may be at higher risk of a blood clot in a vein.
Common symptoms include:
This does not mean that you will get these symptoms. Side effects and symptoms can affect everyone differently.
Some side effects and symptoms need to be treated straight away, including infection during chemotherapy, a stent infection, jaundice or blood clot in a vein. If you think you or your family member needs urgent help, call any emergency contact number you have been given, go to A&E or call 999.
We have listed some of the references to the sources used to write this information. If you would like the full list of references, email us at publications@pancreaticcancer.org.uk
Published March 2026
To be reviewed March 2029
