Signs and symptoms
... Signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer often don''t occur until the disease is advanced. When symptoms do appear, they may include: Upper abdominal pain that may radiate to your middle or upper back....

Causes
... Your pancreas is about 6 inches long and looks something like a pear lying on its side. The wider end (head) is located near the center of your abdomen next to the upper part of your small intestine (...

Risk factors
... The vast majority of pancreatic cancers occur in people older than 60. Other important risk factors include: Race. Black men and women have a higher risk of pancreatic cancer than do whites or Asians....

When to seek medical advice
... See your doctor if you experience an unexplained weight loss, abdominal pain or jaundice. Many problems other than cancer may cause similar symptoms, and your doctor will check for these conditions as...

Screening and diagnosis
... Detecting pancreatic cancer in its early stages is extremely difficult. Signs and symptoms usually don''t appear until the cancer is large or has spread to other tissues. And because your pancreas is ...