Though it is not the most common type of cancer, pancreatic cancer can be quite deadly in its own. It is hard to spot the onset of the disease as it may be a result of several different symptoms which may confuse you of the true nature of the condition. To put it into perspective, the pancreas is an organ that originates horizontally behind the lower portion of the stomach. Cancer originates in the pancreas before spreading to other parts of the body if left untreated. Some of the most common tell-tale signs of the onset of pancreatic cancer are jaundice, upper abdomen pain, and weight loss, all occurring at the same time. Here are a few symptoms of the disease and its stages.

Stages of pancreatic cancer
There are four distinct stages of pancreatic cancer. They include:

Stage 0
It refers to cancer in situ, which means cancer hasn’t grown out of the duct in which it had initiated.

Stage 1A
A tumor, 2cm or smaller is present in the pancreas. It has not spread to any other part of the body or to the lymph nodes.

Stage 1B
At this stage, the tumor is larger than 2cm. It has not yet spread to any other part of the body or to the lymph nodes.

Stage 2A
At this stage, the tumor is larger than 4 cm. It has spread to nearby veins, arteries, lymph nodes or to any other part of the body.

Stage 2B
At this stage, the tumor does not spread to any part of the body, veins or arteries. It only spreads to 1-3 lymph nodes.

Stage 3
Either of these conditions can be seen in this stage:

• The tumor can be of any size and has spread to over 4 or more regional lymph nodes but hasn’t spread to nearby veins, arteries or any other part of the body.
• The tumor has spread to nearby veins and arteries and may spread to nearby lymph nodes, but it hasn’t spread to any part of the body. Stage 4
  The tumor has spread to all the other parts of the body.

Early signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer
There are two prominent types of pancreatic cancers. These contribute to several different symptoms. If you are suffering from the below-mentioned symptoms, do visit a doctor. While suffering from a host of these symptoms is bad, it does not necessarily mean that you are suffering from either of the two forms of the disease. It is better to get a second opinion just in case, hence, visit a doctor at the earliest in case you feel these common signs and symptoms.

Exocrine pancreatic cancer symptoms:

• Jaundice and related symptoms
• Belly or back pain
• Weight loss and poor appetite
• Nausea and vomiting
• Gallbladder and liver enlargement
• Blood clots
• Diabetes
• Fatty tissue abnormalities Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor symptoms
• Gastrinomas
• Glucagonomas
• Insulinomas
• Somatostatinomas
• VIPomas
• PPomas
• Carcinoid Tumors
• Non-functioning neuroendocrine tumors

The first organ to be affected once the cancer spreads is the liver. It gets enlarged and causes immense pain. It also leads to an immense loss in appetite and contributes to the possibility of jaundice. If the cancer spreads further, it may affect the lungs and the bones.

Although pancreatic cancer is quite difficult to diagnose initially, you can do your fair bit to ensure that you are safe from contracting the disease. Smoking vigorously over time increases your likelihood of suffering from the disease in the long run. Seek treatment at the earliest to give yourself a better chance of tackling the conditions and symptoms associated with the disease.