Pancreatic cancer is often diagnosed late. Nearly 50% of diagnoses are made via an emergency presentation and 88% of those diagnosed via this route will die within one year. Survival is 3 times higher for patients diagnosed via GP referral.
Risk factors:
- Age
- Smoking
- Being overweight
- Chronic pancreatitis
- Diabetes
Symptoms
The symptoms of pancreatic cancer can be vague and varied and can include:
- indigestion,
- abdominal pain and/or back pain,
- unexplained weight loss, nausea,
- loss of appetite, fatigue
- , new onset diabetes,
- or a change in existing diabetes and changes in bowel habit (both constipation or diarrhoea).
- Jaundice
More information can be found on:
Macmillan.org .uk
