Pancreatic cancer diagnosis and tests

Macmillan Cancer Support Medical Reference

Usually you begin by seeing your GP when you develop symptoms. Your GP will examine you before referring you to the hospital for tests and for specialist advice and treatment.

It can be difficult for a GP to diagnose pancreatic cancer as the symptoms may be vague and can be caused by other conditions. However, your GP will normally look at your eyes and the colour of your skin to check for jaundice, test your urine for bile and take a blood sample if needed. They may also examine your tummy (abdomen) to feel for any swelling in the area of the liver. After this, your GP may arrange for tests at the hospital and refer you to a specialist.

At the hospital

The specialist will ask you about your general health and any previous medical problems, and then examine you. You may have a blood test and a chest x-ray to check your general health. 

Tests for pancreatic cancer

To help make the diagnosis, you'll probably have a number of tests. After a diagnosis is made, more tests may be needed to find out about the size and position of the cancer, and whether it has spread to other parts of the body. The results will help your doctor to decide on the best treatment for you.

While tests are useful, no single test can tell the whole story. Even the most modern scans can’t always pick up tiny areas of cancer. Occasionally, other medical conditions can cause similar results, making it difficult to decide what is and isn't cancer. Doctors often have to piece together information from different tests and examinations, along with your symptoms and medical history, and then put all this information in context.

Usually, only tests that give the most helpful information about the illness are used. The following tests are often used to diagnose pancreatic cancer:

• blood tests
• ultrasound – a scan that uses sound waves to look at organs such as the pancreas and liver
• EUS (endoscopic ultrasound) – a thin tube (endoscope) is passed through your mouth and stomach to produce a picture of the pancreas and other organs
• CT scan (computerised tomography) – a series of x-rays that builds up a three-dimensional picture of the inside of the body
• spiral CT scan (helical CT scan) – a CT scanning machine rotates rapidly around the body
• MRI scan (magnetic resonance imaging) – uses magnetic fields to build up a series of cross-sectional pictures of the body
• biopsy – a small piece of tissue taken from the tumour and looked at under a microscope
• ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangio pancreatography) – used to take a biopsy or to unblock the bile duct
• PET/CT scan – a combination of a CT scan and a PET scan, which uses low-dose radiation to measure the activity of cells in the body
• laparoscopy – a small operation done under general anaesthetic to see whether further surgery will be possible
• laparotomy – an operation that may be done if other tests don't give a definite diagnosis.

Waiting for your test results

It will probably take several days for the results of your tests to be ready and this waiting period will obviously be an anxious time for you. It may help if you can talk things over with a relative or close friend. You may wish to ring Macmillan Cancer Support’s cancer support specialists or another support organisation for emotional support.

For more information about tests for pancreatic cancer, and sources of help and support to deal with the practical and emotional effects of cancer, visit Macmillan Cancer Support's website.