Pancreatic cancer surgeon warns of symptoms you should never ignore
- Written by Xana Doyle
- Posted: 17 November 2025
- 1 min read
A leading pancreatic cancer surgeon has urged the public not to overlook early warning signs that could indicate one of the UK’s deadliest diseases.
Pancreatic cancer, is known as the ‘silent killer’ and has the lowest survival rate of all common cancers. Early diagnosis can dramatically improve outcomes, yet many people dismiss the early symptoms as harmless or unrelated.
This statement is very timely as November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness month and The World Pancreatic Cancer Day is the 20th of November 2025.
“Pancreatic cancer can develop quietly. By the time symptoms become severe, the disease is often advanced. Recognising subtle changes in your body and acting quickly can make all the difference.”
Mr Neville Menezes, Consultant Pancreatic Surgeon at Ashford and St Peters Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
He outlined the key symptoms that should never be ignored, especially if you experience them together:
- Persistent upper abdominal or back pain that doesn’t go away and does not respond to medical treatment like analgesia or medication to decrease stomach acid.
- Unexplained weight loss or loss of appetite that persists.
- Jaundice, where the skin or eyes turn yellow, often accompanied by dark urine or pale stools.
- New-onset diabetes, particularly in people over 50 with no family history, additionally, if diabetes appears suddenly in people who otherwise have a healthy diet and healthy lifestyle.
- Digestive issues, such as nausea, indigestion, bloating, or changes in bowel habits that are persisting for no apparent reason.
- Itchy skin, which can occur before jaundice appears.
“These symptoms don’t always mean pancreatic cancer,” added Mr Menezes “but if they persist for more than four weeks, it’s crucial to see your GP to make sure that these are not serious symptoms. The GP’s now have access to Non-specific but Serious Symptoms Clinic’s (NSSSC), these clinics are intended to capture patients early due to any cancer that maybe presenting with vague but serious symptoms. Mr Menezes runs this clinic along with a team of specialists at the above-mentioned NHS Hospital. There are similar clinics being carried out nationally by cancer specialists.”
Pancreatic Cancer Action, the UK charity dedicated to early diagnosis, is urging anyone experiencing these symptoms to trust their instincts and seek medical advice.
“We want people to understand what to look out for. If you spot these signs and act early, you stand a far greater chance of surviving this disease.”
Anthony Cummings, CEO of Pancreatic Cancer Action.
Learn more about the #DeadlyKiller campaign and the symptoms of pancreatic cancer.
Deadly killer
Pancreatic cancer is the deadliest common cancer. Spotting the signs could save your life. Do you know the symptoms?
Take a look at our campaign that exposes the truth: pancreatic cancer is a silent killer that doesn’t wait or discriminate. Recognising the symptoms early and acting fast could save your life, or someone else’s. When you know the signs, you have a chance to fight back against this deadly killer.
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