When do symptoms of pancreatic cancer start?

Symptoms of pancreatic cancer normally do not appear until the disease is advanced, according to Mayo Clinic. These symptoms include upper abdominal pain, yellowing of the skin or eyes, weight loss, depression, loss of appetite and blood clots.

Most symptoms of pancreatic cancer result from the presence of a tumor. Jaundice appears when cancerous growths in the pancreas block the bile duct of the liver. Pain in the abdomen appears when growths begin to push on the nerves. Bowel obstruction is another symptom that the presence of a tumor in the pancreas may cause, according to Mayo Clinic. Weight loss or loss of appetite can appear as a result of several factors that include the reduction of digestive enzymes due to the cancer, cancer treatment side effects or obstruction by the tumor.