6. Jaundice

Jaundice, also known as the yellowish discoloration of the skin and eyes, is also a symptom of an underlying condition affecting the pancreas. Jaundice can be caused by a number of factors, but with pancreatic cancer, it is mainly due to the tumor blocking the common bile duct.

Pancreatic head tumors, which grow near and block the common bile duct, prevent bile from passing through and reaching the intestine. When this happens, bile accumulates in the gall bladder and liver, causing a backflow. Bilirubin, a yellowish-brown pigment produced from the breakdown of bile, begins to seep into the blood stream. When the condition isn’t corrected, the excess bilirubin finds its way into the interstitial spaces and into the skin, giving the patient a yellowish glow.