NHS chiefs are encouraging the public to become aware of the typical signs of a cancer often referred to as a “silent killer”. Pancreatic cancer is notoriously difficult to detect until it has significantly advanced, and it carries the highest mortality rate among all cancers.
The survival rates are dismal, with only 25% of patients living for a year or more post-diagnosis, and a mere 5% surviving for a decade or longer. In a recent post on X, previously known as Twitter, NHS leaders stated: “Symptoms of pancreatic cancer can be caused by lots of things, which can make it hard to diagnose. It’s important to be checked by a GP if things don’t feel normal for you, or if any symptoms change or get worse.”
The post then detailed several common indicators of pancreatic cancer, including two that are visible on the skin. It noted that an individual with pancreatic cancer might notice their skin turning yellow, although this may not always be apparent on brown or black skin, and the skin may also become itchy.
Other symptoms include fever or chills, diarrhoea or constipation, changes in bowel movements, pain in the upper abdomen and back, yellowing of the whites of the eyes, loss of appetite and unexplained weight loss, fatigue, nausea, indigestion symptoms, and unusually dark urine.
The NHS further advises: “If you have another condition like irritable bowel syndrome, you may get symptoms like these regularly. You might find you get used to them. But it’s important to be checked by a GP if your symptoms change, get worse or do not feel normal for you.”