Overview
- There is no population screening program, making early recognition essential given the poor prognosis, with 90% of patients dying within five years, according to the AdP.
- Persistent signs to watch include dull upper‑abdominal pain, unexplained back pain, jaundice, pale greasy stools, nausea or vomiting, unintended weight loss, fatigue, night sweats, or a new palpable change in the abdomen.
- Newly diagnosed diabetes can be an early warning sign and may precede other symptoms by one to two years.
- Medical evaluation is advised if symptoms lack a clear cause or persist for roughly two to four weeks, experts say.
- People with at least two first‑degree relatives affected may qualify for insurer‑covered surveillance such as MRI or combined ultrasound with endoscopy at university pancreas centers, with locations listed on oncomap.de.