Turn It Purple For Pancreatic Cancer!

November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, an annual campaign to highlight the signs and symptoms of a disease that is often diagnosed too late. Every year in the UK there are around 10,500 new pancreatic cancer cases, yet only 10% of these are diagnosed in time for life-saving surgery.

Pancreatic cancer can be found anywhere in the pancreas, which is an organ in the top part of your tummy. How serious it is depends on where it is in the pancreas, how large it is, and whether it has spread anywhere else. As with all cancers, detection as early as possible leads to the best chances of survival – but pancreatic cancer is very difficult to detect, which is why it is important to seek medical care as soon as you notice any symptoms.

Symptoms can include:

• Jaundice (yellowing of the skin), and/or itchy skin

• Darker pee and paler poo than usual

• Loss of appetite or losing weight without trying to

• Fatigue or having no energy

• High temperature, or feeling hot or shivery

• Nausea and vomiting

• Change in bowel habits

• Upper abdominal pain and back pain

Anyone can get pancreatic cancer, there is no clear cause to it. But by making healthy choices, you can lower your risk of getting it - maintain a healthy weight, cut down on alcohol and quit smoking.

If you are showing any of the symptoms of pancreatic cancer you may have multiple tests to try and find out what is happening. Your symptoms may be due to a number of reasons and most people do not have cancer. It is still important that you get your symptoms investigated.