--- title: "Pancreatic cancer: Symptoms & Treatment | HealthAnswers" description: "Pancreatic cancer — symptoms including jaundice and weight loss, diagnosis, and NHS treatment options including surgery and chemotherapy." url: https://healthanswers.co.uk/conditions/pancreatic-cancer/ robots: noindex --- # Pancreatic cancer: Symptoms & Treatment | HealthAnswers Health A–Z Pancreatic cancer — symptoms including jaundice and weight loss, diagnosis, and NHS treatment options including surgery and chemotherapy. Written by HealthAnswers editorial team Medically reviewed by [HealthAnswers UK doctor review panel](https://healthanswers.co.uk/our-doctors/) Reviewed 3 July 2026 ## Quick answer What is pancreatic cancer? Pancreatic cancer is an aggressive cancer of the pancreas — often diagnosed late because early symptoms are vague. Red flags include jaundice (yellow skin and eyes), unexplained weight loss, new-onset diabetes in over 50s, pale stools and dark urine, upper tummy pain going through to back, and indigestion not responding to treatment. Only about 10% are suitable for curative surgery. See a GP urgently for jaundice or significant unexplained weight loss — 2-week wait referral. Smoking and chronic pancreatitis increase risk. ## Who is this page for? This page is for people in the UK who want a plain-English overview of Pancreatic cancer, including when to seek help and what NHS care usually involves. It explains general information, not what is wrong with you personally. ## Who should skip this page? Skip this page if you need a diagnosis, a prescription, or emergency care. It cannot replace a GP, pharmacist, NHS 111 or 999. If you are in immediate danger, call 999; for urgent advice that is not life-threatening, call 111 in England, Scotland or Wales, or use your GP out-of-hours service in Northern Ireland. On this page 6 sections ## Key facts about pancreatic cancer - About 10,500 pancreatic cancer cases in the UK each year — survival remains poor because most present at advanced stage. - Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is commonest type — arises from exocrine pancreas. - Jaundice painless or with weight loss — urgent investigation — may be resectable if caught before spread. - CA19-9 blood marker supports diagnosis but not screening — can be normal in early disease. - Whipple procedure (pancreaticoduodenectomy) offers cure chance in selected early cases. ## Pancreatic cancer — why early diagnosis matters **Pancreatic cancer** is **one of the deadliest common cancers** — **~10,500 UK cases/year** — **5-year survival under 10% overall** because **most present with advanced disease**. **Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC)** — **90% of cases** ## Symptoms — when to investigate **High suspicion:** - Painless jaundice — pale stools, dark urine, itching - Unexplained weight loss - Upper abdominal pain → back — worse supine - New diabetes + weight loss over 50 - Thrombosis — migratory superficial thrombophlebitis (Trousseau sign) **Non-specific (still investigate if persistent):** - Indigestion not responding to PPI - Appetite loss - Fatigue See [jaundice](https://healthanswers.co.uk/symptoms/jaundice/) symptom guide — **not always alcohol or hepatitis** ## Diagnosis pathway - Urgent CT pancreas — dual phase - Tumour markers — CA19-9 — Lewis antigen negative patients may not express - EUS + FNA biopsy — tissue confirmation - Staging — CT chest/abdomen/pelvis — laparoscopy if borderline resectable **Resectability categories:** - Resectable - Borderline — neoadjuvant chemo first - Locally advanced — unresectable - Metastatic ## Treatment **Surgery (curative intent):** - Whipple (pancreaticoduodenectomy) — head tumours - Distal pancreatectomy — body/tail - High-volume centre — outcomes differ **Chemotherapy:** - Adjuvant post-surgery — FOLFIRINOX fit patients - Metastatic — FOLFIRINOX or gem/nab-paclitaxel - Palliative — symptom control, modest survival gain **Supportive:** - Biliary stent — ERCP — relieves jaundice - Pancreatic enzymes — steatorrhoea - Pain team — coeliac plexus block ## Risk reduction - Stop smoking - Healthy weight - Limit alcohol — chronic pancreatitis risk **Screening** only in **high-risk families** — **BRCA, Lynch, FAMMM** — **specialist programmes** ## After diagnosis **Pancreatic Cancer UK support line** **Clinical nurse specialist** **Advance care planning** — **realistic hope with aggressive treatment where appropriate** **Jaundice + weight loss** — **GP same week** — **not wait for painless to mean harmless**. ## ! When to see a GP about pancreatic cancer See a GP within 2 weeks for jaundice, unexplained weight loss over 4 weeks, persistent upper abdominal or back pain, new diabetes after age 50 with weight loss, or pale greasy stools. Same-day for deepening jaundice with fever (cholangitis risk) or severe pain. NICE 2-week wait for suspected cancer if jaundice with suspected pancreatic origin or age over 40 with weight loss and abdominal pain. ## Common questions about pancreatic cancer What are the early symptoms of pancreatic cancer? Often none or non-specific — indigestion, appetite loss, fatigue. As tumour grows — weight loss, upper abdominal pain radiating to back, jaundice if bile duct blocked, pale stools, dark urine, new diabetes, deep vein thrombosis without clear cause. Symptoms overlap many benign conditions — persistent or progressive features need scanning. How is pancreatic cancer diagnosed? CT pancreas protocol first — identifies mass and staging. MRI or EUS (endoscopic ultrasound) for detail and biopsy. ERCP with stent if jaundiced. CA19-9 tumour marker — not diagnostic alone. Laparoscopy in selected cases before major surgery. Staging determines resectability — only 10–15% resectable at diagnosis. Can pancreatic cancer be cured? Surgical resection (Whipple procedure or distal pancreatectomy) offers only curative option — for localised tumours without major vessel involvement or distant spread. Adjuvant chemotherapy (FOLFIRINOX or gemcitabine/capecitabine) after surgery improves survival. Most patients present too late for surgery — palliative chemo extends life and controls symptoms. What causes pancreatic cancer? Smoking — strongest modifiable risk — doubles risk. Chronic pancreatitis, obesity, diabetes, family history (BRCA2, Lynch syndrome, Peutz-Jeghers), heavy alcohol. Most cases sporadic without clear cause. Age — peak 65–79. What is the Whipple procedure? Pancreaticoduodenectomy — removes head of pancreas, duodenum, part of bile duct and stomach, gallbladder — reconnects bowel. Major operation — 2-week hospital stay, lifelong pancreatic enzyme supplements and often diabetes afterward. Mortality under 5% in high-volume centres. ## Sources - [NHS — Pancreatic cancer](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pancreatic-cancer/) - [Pancreatic Cancer UK](https://www.pancreaticcancer.org.uk/) - [NICE — Suspected cancer recognition and referral](https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng12)