The following are the symptoms of pancreatic cancer: Dull, continuous abdominal pain (less pain when leaning forward, more when lying down) Pain in the middle of your back Jaundice (yellowing of skin and whites of eyes), often accompanied by itching of the skin Rapid weight loss Chronic nausea or diarrhea Weakness Enlarged liver and gallbladder Clay or light colored stools.

Pancreatic cancer is often difficult to detect in the early stages because distinct symptoms usually do not occur until the cancer is advanced. The early symptoms of pancreatic cancer can resemble those of other diseases. With the pancreas located behind other organs including the stomach, liver, small intestine, gallbladder, bile ducts and spleen, symptoms usually occur only when the cancer has grown large enough to impact these surrounding organs' function.

Initial symptoms may include pain in the upper abdomen moving into the back, and unexplained weight loss. As most pancreatic tumors start in the head of the pancreas where digestive juices are produced, these tumors frequently block a bile duct, producing jaundice, and itchiness of the skin. (However, these symptoms more commonly reflect viral hepatitis or gallstones). Other signs of pancreatic cancer may include loss of appetite, nausea, fatigue, fat malabsorption, and depression. Any of these symptoms should be examined by a physician.