Common Symptoms & Early Warning Signs of Upper GI Cancers

Your upper gastrointestinal, sometimes referred to as your ‘upper GI’ region, includes organs such as your oesophagus, stomach, liver, bile ducts and pancreas.
Each of these organs plays a vital role in digesting food and fluids, processing nutrients, absorbing energy, regulating blood sugar and filtering waste before passing through the duodenum, the first part of the small intestine.
Upper gastrointestinal cancer is a term for the group of cancers that affect the upper digestive system. These include pancreatic, liver, stomach, biliary and oesophageal cancers.
Cancer can occur in any part of these organs.
Upper gastrointestinal cancers have some of the lowest survival rates out of all major cancers. Unlike other cancers, there are no early detection tests - so it’s important to be aware of changes in your body and to know what to look out for.
Although each cancer has its own unique symptoms, there are some commonalities in symptoms of upper gastrointestinal cancer, including:
🔎 Indigestion, heartburn or reflux
🔎 Loss of appetite
🔎 Unexplained weight loss
🔎 Excessive fatigue or weakness
🔎 Abdominal pain
🔎 Nausea
🔎 Changes in stools
🔎 Jaundice, which is the yellowing of the skin and eyes
It’s important to see your GP if you are experiencing any of these 👆 symptoms, especially if it is unusual for you or persistent.
Other factors that may increase your risk of developing an upper GI cancer include a family history of an upper GI cancer and lifestyle factors such as your age, smoking, diet and being overweight.
An earlier diagnosis can make a difference to your treatment options.
Don’t ignore the warning signs.
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