Early Warning Signs & Risk Factors
Know the signs. Save a life.
Know the Signs
The warning signs for pancreatic cancer
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Jaundice
Yellowing of skin or eyes; often with dark urine/light stools.
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Abdominal or back pain
Persistent pain in upper abdomen that may radiate to the back.
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Unexplained weight loss
Loss of appetite or sudden weight loss without trying.
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New-onset diabetes
Especially after age 50, sometimes with no family history.
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Nausea or vomiting
Digestive upset that does not resolve.
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Changes in stool
Greasy, floating, or pale stools; diarrhea or constipation.
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Itchy skin
Often related to bile duct blockage with jaundice.
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Fatigue
Ongoing tiredness and weakness.
If you notice these symptoms, especially more than one, talk to your doctor promptly.
Risk Factors
Things you can control — and things you cannot
Things you can control
- ✓Smoking or tobacco use
- ✓Overweight/obesity and physical inactivity
- ✓Unhealthy diet (processed/red meats, low fruits/vegetables)
- ✓Heavy alcohol use
- ✓Workplace chemical exposure (e.g., certain solvents/pesticides)
- ✓Managing chronic pancreatitis risk (with medical guidance)
Things you cannot control
- •Age (risk increases after 55)
- •Family history or inherited gene mutations (e.g., BRCA2, PALB2, Lynch)
- •Personal history of pancreatitis or long-standing diabetes
- •Sex (slightly higher in men)
- •Race/ethnicity (higher rates in Black and some Ashkenazi Jewish populations)
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