• News

"Eight Pancreatic Cancer Signs You’ve Probably Been Ignoring" - Alyssa Jung

  • Reader's Digest
  • New York, NY
  • (May 22, 2018)

Symptoms of pancreatic cancer often aren’t noticeable until the disease is in the advanced stages, but if you notice any of the following pancreatic cancer signs, talk to your doctor. "Jaundice is one of the clearest symptoms of pancreatic cancer," said Christopher J. DiMaio, MD, associate professor of medicine, gastroenterology and pediatrics at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. "Often, patients feel fine until one day a friend notices their eyes look yellow, then they go to the doctor and find they have advanced pancreatic cancer." Cancers that start near the head of the pancreas can block the bile duct, preventing bile from reaching the intestines, where it helps break down fats and eventually leaves the body in the stool. This bile builds up and causes jaundice, which is yellowing of the skin or eyes. The pancreas is responsible for creating insulin, so the early stages of the tumor may affect the pancreas's ability to produce insulin, causing diabetes, said Dr. DiMaio.

- Christopher J. DiMaio, MD, Associate Professor, Medicine, Gastroenterology, Pediatrics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Learn more