Flourish Health & Wellbeing eMag - Latest Edition - Flipbook - Page 8
Signs that should not
be ignored
Early pancreatic
cancer may produce
no symptoms. When
symptoms do develop,
they can be vague and
may resemble those of
more common digestive
or metabolic conditions.
Possible signs include:
• yellowing of the
skin or eyes, known
as jaundice
• dark urine or pale,
greasy bowel motions
• unexplained weight
loss
• reduced appetite
• nausea or vomiting
• persistent pain in the
upper abdomen, back
or side
• diarrhoea, constipation
or other changes in
bowel habits
• fatigue
• newly diagnosed
diabetes, particularly
later in life.
These symptoms do
not necessarily mean
someone has pancreatic
cancer. However,
unexplained weight
loss, jaundice, severe or
persistent abdominal
pain, or symptoms that
are new, worsening
or unusual should be
discussed promptly with
a doctor.
Who may be at greater risk?
The exact cause of pancreatic cancer is not
fully understood, and many people who
develop the disease have no obvious risk
factors.Factors associated with an increased
risk include:
• increasing age, particularly being
over 60
• smoking or chewing tobacco
• overweight and obesity
• long term type 2 diabetes
• newly developed diabetes after the age of 50
• chronic pancreatitis
• heavy alcohol consumption
• certain pancreatic cysts
• a family history of pancreatic, ovarian or
bowel cancer
• inherited genetic changes
• ongoing exposure to some pesticides, dyes
and metal re昀椀ning chemicals.
Smoking is one of the clearest modi昀椀able risks.
Healthdirect and Pankind report that people
who smoke are approximately twice as likely
to develop pancreatic cancer as those who do
not smoke. Pankind also reports that around
28% of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas in
Australia are related to smoking.
Having a risk factor does not mean that cancer
will develop. Likewise, pancreatic cancer can
occur in people without any known risk factors.
