Appears first as back pain, experts warn of 'silent killer'

Pancreatic cancer is known as the silent killer because it is difficult to diagnose early – it causes no signs or symptoms in the early stages. That's why it's so important to be aware of the symptoms that appear.

The most common symptoms of this disease include: Abdominal pain, back pain, unexplained weight loss, indigestion, loss of appetite, extreme fatigue, etc. Pancreatic cancer is also diagnosed very late. Experts point out that when you go to the doctor after experiencing symptoms, the cancer tends to be advanced.

“Late diagnosis equals poor survival. Only eight out of 100 people with pancreatic cancer survive at five years and the key to managing it is the earlier we make the diagnosis, the more likely you are to have surgery and chemotherapy and the chances of survival increase," says Dr. Mark Taylor.