The cancer may grow for some time before it causes pressure in the abdomen, pain, or other problems. In many cases, the cancer has spread outside the pancreas by the time it is found. When symptoms appear, they depend on the location and size of the tumor. If the tumor blocks the common bile duct so that bile cannot pass into the intestines, the skin and whites of the eyes may become yellow, and urine may become dark. This condition is called jaundice.
Pain often develops in the upper abdomen and sometimes spreads to the back.
Cancer of the pancreas can also cause nausea, loss of appetite, depression, weight loss, and weakness. These symptoms may be caused by cancer or by other less serious problems. Only a doctor can correctly diagnose the cause of the symptoms. An online prayer list and crisis prayer team are available to lend spiritual support. To ensure that it remains current, the information in PDQ is reviewed and updated each month by experts in the fields of cancer treatment, prevention, screening, and supportive care.