The health service has urged people to get checked if they do not feel right
The NHS has issued an urgent warning about symptoms that many people dismiss as “common”, urging anyone experiencing them to seek medical advice promptly. In a post on X, the health service emphasised the importance of getting checked if something doesn’t feel quite right.
In their cautionary message, it warned: “Symptoms of pancreatic cancer are common and can be caused by lots of things. It’s important to be checked by a GP if things don’t feel normal for you. If your symptoms are caused by cancer, finding it earlier may make it easier to treat.”
Health professionals explained that pancreatic cancer develops anywhere within the pancreas – a vital organ situated in the upper abdomen that aids digestion and produces essential hormones like insulin. It added: “How serious pancreatic cancer is depends on where it is in the pancreas, how big it is, if it has spread and your general health.”
Signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer
You may not have any symptoms, and it might be hard to spot. Symptoms of pancreatic cancer can include:
- the whites of your eyes or your skin turn yellow (jaundice), and you may also have itchy skin, darker pee and paler poo than usual
- loss of appetite or losing weight without trying to
- feeling tired or having no energy
- a high temperature, or feeling hot or shivery
Other symptoms can affect your digestion, such as:
- feeling or being sick
- diarrhoea or constipation, or other changes in your poo
- pain at the top part of your tummy and your back, which may feel worse when you’re eating or lying down and better when you lean forward
- symptoms of indigestion, such as feeling bloated
Common signs do not equal cancer
However, it’s important to note that these symptoms can be quite common and could be caused by a variety of conditions. Therefore, it’s crucial to get them checked out early on for proper investigation.
The NHS stressed: “Having the symptoms does not definitely mean you have pancreatic cancer, but it’s important to get checked by a GP. If your symptoms are caused by cancer, finding it early may mean it’s easier to treat.”
What happens during a GP appointment?
The GP may examine your abdomen and ask you to provide a urine sample or undergo a blood test. If further tests are required, you may receive an urgent referral or be referred to see a specialist in hospital if the GP believes your symptoms could indicate cancer.
Questions to ask your GP
According to Cancer Research UK, these are just some of the questions you may want to ask your GP. You can write them down so you don’t forget.
- Do I need to see a specialist? Is it urgent?
- When will I see them?
- Where will I see them?
- Will I find out about my appointments by post or telephone?
- Do I need tests? What will they involve?
- How long should I expect to wait?
- Where can I find out more about tests?
- Do I have to do anything in preparation for this test?
- When will I get the results and who will tell me?
Your GP may not be able to answer all of your questions right now, but they will share as much information as they can. It’s completely normal to find waiting for answers difficult, so talking to a friend or family member about how you’re feeling might make things a little easier.
If your GP says you do not need any tests or a referral, you can ask the following:
- Can you explain why I don’t need to have tests or see a specialist?
- Is there anything I can do to help myself?
- Do I need to see you again?
- Who do I contact if my symptoms continue or get worse, especially during the night or at weekends?
