A cancer charity has warned of some red flag symptoms in your stomach that could be a sign of pancreatic cancer.
Some of its early signs and symptoms are often brushed off as harmless stomach problems. As a result, a lot of people don't get checked out by a doctor until it's too late which makes it much more difficult to treat.
The deadly disease is diagnosed in over 10,500 people in the UK every year. Tragically, more than half of people who are diagnosed with the disease die within the first three months, according to Pancreatic Cancer UK (PCUK).
Read on for the charity's list of 14 signs which could be an indication of pancreatic cancer - including a 'red flag' symptom.
PCUK specialist nurse, Jeni Jones, says: "The vast majority of cases are diagnosed when the cancer is already at a late stage, because the symptoms often overlap with other conditions like indigestion and irritable bowel syndrome.
"If you have a symptom that’s persistent, you should speak to a GP – it could mean you’re diagnosed early."
Here are some common symptoms that could be a sign of something more serious.
Jaundice
Jeni described this as a "red flag symptom" that's hard to ignore as it turns the whites of your eyes and your skin yellow.
It usually occurs when there's a tumour towards the head of the pancreas. Not everyone with the cancer will develop jaundice, but it's one of the more prevalent symptoms.
Indigestion
This can be a sign of pancreatic cancer, although many don't consider it to be a red flag.
"A lot of the time people might just take over-the-counter remedies for persistent indigestion – it's not something that will automatically see you running to the GP," says Jeni.
"But there are times when it might line up with other symptoms like pain in your tummy or back, and with several niggling things happening, which could suggest pancreatic cancer."
Stomach or back pain
This tends to be a dull pain that doesn't go away and can be found in your stomach or around your bra line.
Jeni explained that it's not lower back pain, but it usually originates higher up between the shoulder blades and doesn't fade after having something to eat.
She says combined tummy and back pain is quite a common symptom, but some people may just have one or the other.
Loss of appetite
A sudden loss of appetite can also be a sign of pancreatic cancer as the tumour may be pressing down on your stomach making you feel more full.
Jeni also explained that it can range from having no appetite at all to feeling full after eating very little, as stomach capacity is reduced by the tumour.
Sudden weight loss
On the other hand, if you've been eating normally but are still losing weight, this could be a sign that a person has cancer.
"They might just notice their clothes are getting loose," said the specialist nurse.
Itchiness
Your skin might become incredibly itchy before you develop jaundice, because bile salts build up under the skin first.
"It's insanely itchy," stresses Jeni . "I'm not talking about a little itch, it would have you scratching to a crazy degree."
Nausea
Feeling sick or actually being sick is a common sign of the cancer. However, vomiting is less common than just feeling sick, as Jeni explained it only occurs sometimes.
Changes to toilet habits
Jeni notes: "This is a very, very important one because there are many, many causes of diarrhoea, but this is something we call steatorrhea – when there's fat present in the stool, which makes it go a yellowy colour, which also happens in jaundice.
"This greasy, yellowy poo that doesn't flush away is a sure sign that there’s something wrong higher up in the digestive system.
"If the patient doesn't describe the specifics of their diarrhoea, it can waste time for diagnosis, and time is of the essence."
Blood clots
These can be hard to spot, but they may present themselves if you're feeling breathless or have a swollen leg.
A fairly uncommon symptom, Jeni says they could show up in people who, for example, are younger and non-smokers and so wouldn't typically be at risk of clots.
She added: "It's exceptional, but clots are a symptom and could be leading to the fact that there's an underlying problem."
Recently diagnosed diabetes
This cancer can stop the pancreas from producing insulin, which can lead to diabetes.
Jeni explained: "If you have some of the pancreatic cancer symptoms and you're suddenly diagnosed with diabetes, then that ought to be a red flag symptom for your GP to think about whether you need a scan to check your pancreas."
Fatigue
Tiredness can stem from many different things, but Jeni urged people to be wary if it's coupled with other pancreatic cancer symptoms.
If you're tired all the time, and also have symptoms such as ongoing pain or steatorrhea, it could be a sign of the deadly cancer.
Difficulty swallowing food
As previously mentioned, the cancer can prevent people from feeling full, and they may find swallowing food "abnormal".
But Jeni explained that this has nothing to do with the oesophagus itself, but rather that the person is just too full to fit any food in.
Fever, shivering and feeling unwell
Although these are uncommon symptoms, they aren't unheard of.
They could be linked to the cancer itself or another condition such as jaundice, which Jeni says requires immediate medical attention.
Depression and anxiety
Feeling depressed or anxious for no reason is a common sign of the cancer, according to Jeni.
She says that it's not something that people would usually consider to be a symptom, but can go hand-in-hand with pain and fatigue.
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond. Sign up to our daily newsletter here .
