Although pancreatic cancer only makes up about three percent of all cancers in the United States, it is responsible for around eight percent of all cancer-related deaths, making early detection especially critical.
What many people don’t realize is that one of the earliest warning signs of pancreatic cancer can appear in the legs — long before stomach pain or jaundice develops.
Experts say the first red flag often isn’t in the pancreas at all but in the form of a blood clot. When a clot forms in a major vein, most often in the leg, it can sometimes signal that something serious is happening deeper within the body.
Doctors have found that these clots can be an early sign of pancreatic cancer, even before any typical digestive symptoms appear.
Medical professionals emphasize that anyone experiencing these symptoms without an obvious cause should get checked immediately, as it could be an early sign of a much more dangerous condition.
Other subtle early signs may include fatigue or weakness that has no clear explanation, or the onset of jaundice — when the skin and eyes develop a yellow tint due to a buildup of bilirubin in the body.
Doctors warn that as the disease progresses, it can even interfere with the pancreas’s ability to make insulin, leading to the sudden onset of diabetes in previously healthy adults.
