Pancreatic cancer can develop with symptoms that are subtle or easy to overlook. Possible warning signs include blood clots, jaundice, abdominal or back pain, persistent itching, nausea or vomiting, and unexplained weight loss. These symptoms can also occur with many other conditions, so they do not automatically indicate cancer.

Jaundice can cause yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, and pale stools when a tumor blocks the bile duct and causes bile to build up in the bloodstream. Persistent itching can occur for the same reason, while abdominal or back pain may begin as a vague ache and sometimes become more noticeable after eating or when lying down.

Digestive problems can also contribute to nausea, reduced appetite, difficulty absorbing nutrients, and unintended weight loss. Pancreatic cancer may interfere with the pancreas’s roles in digestion and blood-sugar regulation, which can contribute to these changes. Anyone experiencing persistent, unexplained, or concerning symptoms should discuss them with a healthcare professional rather than trying to determine the cause alone.