Pancreatic cancer is the 10th most common cancer in the UK, according to Pancreatic Cancer UK, but it’s the 5th biggest cancer killer, with 9,000 deaths every year.
Like all cancers, spotting symptoms as early as possible can help with an early diagnosis and lead to life-saving treatment.
While the NHS notes the disease may not have any symptoms or may be hard to spot, liver and pancreas surgeon, Dr Mark Fraiman, listed some warning signs to look for, including suddenly losing a taste for wine and coffee.
He said: “Some patients may suddenly lose their taste for wine, coffee, and smoking. They claim to feel disgust for the taste and smell of alcohol and coffee.”
Someone with pancreatic cancer may also notice a strange taste in their mouth. Dr Fraiman said: “Some patients with pancreatic cancer also have a strange taste in their mouth, often described as metallic.”
Some more warning signs to be aware of, according to Dr Fraiman, are skin or eye yellowing, itchy palms, skin, and soles of feet, and abdominal pain.
Skin or eye yellowing
This happens when a small pancreatic tumour begins to develop, blocking the bile duct located in the head of your pancreas and leading to the buildup of bile, said Dr Fraiman.
When this happens, it results in jaundice.
Itchy palms, skin and soles of feet
This is caused by how your skin reacts to the bilirubin, said Dr Fraiman – a brown and yellowish liver chemical that leads to jaundice.
Abdominal pain
Patients with pancreatic cancer usually feel a gnawing pain instead of an ache or sharp cramp.
Dr Fraiman advised: “It tends to radiate towards the back. The pain may lessen when the patient leans forward.”
Other warning signs
The way your poo smells and looks could also be warning signs for pancreatic cancer.
Dr Fraiman said: “If a pancreatic tumour is preventing digestive enzymes from getting to the intestines, this leads to your body not being able to digest fatty foods. Because of this excess fat, your body produces smelly, loose stool that floats. Physicians say this pancreatic tumour symptom is an early clue that is frequently overlooked.”
Upper intestinal bleeding can cause tarry and dark stools.
The NHS advises to see a GP if:
- you’ve lost a noticeable amount of weight
- you have other symptoms of pancreatic cancer that get worse or do not get better after two weeks
- you have a condition that causes symptoms with your digestion that are not getting better after two weeks of using your usual treatments