The pancreas is an organ located in the abdomen which helps with digestion and secretion of hormones. Pancreatic cancer is a condition that affects this organ and leads to the development of malignant cells in the tissues of the pancreas.

Symptoms of
Unlike some other forms of cancer, there are no specific symptoms in the early stages of this condition which can help patients get an accurate diagnosis and timely treatment. Some of the symptoms that could be linked to pancreatic cancer are:

• Jaundice
  Pancreatic cancer can either develop in the head, body, or tail of the pancreas. If cancer forms in the head of the pancreas, it can put pressure on the bile duct, leading to jaundice. This type of cancer can be detected and cured in the early stages as the symptoms of jaundice become evident. But cancer that begins either in the body or tail of the pancreas does not cause jaundice until cancer progresses to a severe stage.
• Pain in the stomach or back
  Cancer that begins in the body or tail of the pancreas could grow large and exert pressure on the organs situated nearby; this can lead to abdominal pain. If cancer spreads to the nerves, it can cause back pain.
• Deep vein thrombosis
  A blood clot in a larger vein in the leg is one of the early symptoms of pancreatic cancer. This condition can cause redness, swelling, warmth, and pain in the affected part.
• Diabetes
  In rare cases, this condition destroys the cells that produce insulin. Changes in sugar levels can be detected through blood tests
• Enlargement of the liver and gallbladder
  Accumulation of bile in the gallbladder causes its enlargement, and the liver can become enlarged if cancer spreads to this organ.

Unexplained weight loss, loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting can also be signs of this form of cancer.

It is essential to remember that all these symptoms could be caused by other diseases as well, and so, it is crucial to visit a doctor if one experiences persistent symptoms.

Risk factors
With no cause for pancreatic cancer established yet, doctors generally put some groups of people at a higher risk of developing this condition than others. Some of these risk factors are:

• People who are older than 55 are more likely to develop this condition.
• Men face a higher risk than women.
• African-Americans and Ashkenazi Jews are at higher risk than people of other ethnicities.
• People who are obese or diabetic are more likely to develop pancreatic cancer.
• People who smoke and consume unhealthy foods are at high risk.
• Families who inherit rare conditions like hereditary pancreatitis and chronic pancreatitis are also at risk.
• People who are exposed to hazardous chemicals particularly dye, petrochemicals, and pesticides are at risk.
• People who have been infected by Hepatitis B, or have had a bacterial infection caused by Pylori. H are also at higher risk.
• People who have been affected by liver cirrhosis or other chronic liver diseases are also at risk.

Some inherited conditions which increase the predisposition towards many types of cancer, including pancreatic cancer, are:

• Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome
• Lynch syndrome
• Hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) syndrome
• Li-Fraumeni Syndrome
• Familial adenomatous polyposis

Early detection
People who fall under the high-risk category should visit the doctor and get themselves examined frequently. MRI or endoscopic ultrasound tests and genetic testing can help confirm the presence or risk of pancreatic cancer. As of now, screening is the only way of detecting this condition in the early stages.