NBCE Exam 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners

The most common presenting symptom for a patient with pancreatic cancer is pain. Patients often experience back pain or abdominal pain, which may be dull and persistent. This pain is typically due to the tumor's growth, which can irritate surrounding tissues or organs, cause obstruction, or invade adjacent structures. Additionally, pancreatic cancer often leads to visceral pain because of the involvement of the pancreas's location in the retroperitoneum. This symptom often prompts patients to seek medical attention and can be a key sign clinicians look for during the diagnostic process.

While jaundice, weight loss, and fatigue are also associated with pancreatic cancer, they are not as frequently the initial symptom that brings patients to seek care. Jaundice occurs when cancer blocks the bile ducts, weight loss can result from poor appetite and malabsorption, and fatigue is common in many types of cancer. However, pain remains the primary symptom that leads to further investigation and diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.