Pancreatic Cancer

The causes of pancreatic cancer are unclear but you may be at risk if you:

• Are overweight
• Have a close relative with pancreatic cancer
• Have diabetes
• Have pancreatitis (swelling of the pancreas)
• Smoke tobacco

The symptoms of pancreatic cancer are usually not obvious but may include:

• Abdominal pain
• Back pain
• Indigestion, bloating and oily stools
• Pain in the middle or upper part of the abdomen
• Unexplained weight loss
• Jaundice (yellowish skin or whites of the eye)

You are likely to undergo surgery to remove the tumour or ease the symptoms. Other treatments include:

• Radiation therapy (high-energy x-ray) after surgery or if surgery is not possible. This prevents the cancer from returning and may reduce pain and jaundice
• Chemotherapy to improve the effectiveness of radiation therapy or if surgery and radiation therapy cannot be given