What are the signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer?
• During the early stages of pancreatic cancer there are usually no signs or symptoms. The tumor may have grown and spread outside the pancreas by the time you experience symptoms. The main signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer are: • Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes). • Lower back pain that does not go away. • Losing weight without trying. • Other problems that pancreatic cancer may cause in your body are: • Itchy skin. • Loss of appetite and body weakness. • Nausea (feeling sick to your stomach) or vomiting (throwing up). How is pancreatic cancer diagnosed? You may need one or more of the following tests: • Abdominal ultrasound: An abdominal ultrasound is a test that is done to see inside your abdomen. Sound waves are used to show pictures of your abdomen on a TV-like screen. • CT scan. This is also called a CAT scan. A special x-ray machine uses a computer to take pictures of your pancreas and nearby organs. You may be given dye before the pictures are ta
