Along with yellowing, symptoms may include dark urine, pale or greasy stools, itching, and general discomfort. Unlike some other symptoms, jaundice itself is often not painful. While it can be caused by other conditions such as gallstones or liver disease, sudden unexplained jaundice should always be checked urgently.
“My wife noticed my skin turning yellow while putting calamine lotion on my back to soothe some itching,” Steven Adami, a Wyoming rancher who was 62 when he was diagnosed with stage II pancreatic cancer, told mdanderson.org. “I called the doctor, and he was so concerned that he told me to be at his office in an hour.”
Unexplained weight loss
Many people with pancreatic cancer experience significant weight loss without trying.
This can happen because the body uses more energy than usual, appetite decreases, and the pancreas struggles to produce enzymes needed for proper digestion. As a result, some people feel full very quickly and eat much less than normal.
Digestive issues
Because the pancreas plays a key role in digestion, cancer can disrupt normal enzyme production.
This may lead to bloating, nausea, indigestion, or discomfort after meals. Stools may become oily, pale, or foul-smelling due to poor fat absorption. These symptoms are often mistaken for more common stomach problems.
