This might not be what you expected to read from a chiropractic clinic.
You’re here for posture, back pain, movement — maybe even better sleep or structure.
So why are we talking about pancreatic cancer?
Because sometimes, health isn’t just physical.
Sometimes it’s personal.
And this one is.
A Quick Note Before We Begin
This post won’t tell you that chiropractic care cures cancer.
It won’t try to connect dots that shouldn’t be connected.
And it definitely won’t turn someone else’s suffering into a sales pitch.
This, in honour of Pancreatic awareness month, is a message from one human to another — from a chiropractor who lost someone they loved to one of the most aggressive, overlooked, and under-researched cancers out there.
Because maybe, if we talk about it more… someone gets diagnosed earlier.
Someone gets help sooner.
Someone gets more time.
My Dad Had Pancreatic Cancer
And like so many others — we didn’t see it coming.
My dad was healthy. He was active, strong, and never one to complain.
But over time, he started losing weight.
He mentioned vague discomfort in his back and upper abdomen — nothing dramatic, very occasional, and just something he chalked up to age or stress.
Eventually, he started feeling tired all the time, and he’d fill up quickly at meals. He kept going back and forth to the doctors, but by the time we had answers, it was too late.
He was diagnosed in November 2021.
He died 12 weeks later — in January 2022.
Pancreatic cancer doesn’t wait. It doesn’t always give you a clear warning.
And if you don’t know what to look for, it’s easy to miss — just like we did.
That’s why I talk about it now.
Why Am I Sharing This as a Chiropractor?
Because in my role, I see people with back pain — all the time.
Most of the time, it’s nothing serious.
But once in a while, it is.
As chiropractors, we’re trained to screen for red flags. We’re trained to know when pain isn’t “just muscular.”
We’re trained to refer out, to ask better questions, to not ignore what doesn’t feel right.
And that can make all the difference.
It’s not about diagnosing cancer.
It’s about not missing it.
The Warning Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore
Pancreatic cancer is often missed because there are no warning signs at all, and when there are, they look like everyday complaints.
Here are a few to pay attention to:
- Unexplained weight loss
- New or worsening upper abdominal or back pain
- Fatigue that doesn’t go away
- Jaundice (yellowing of skin or eyes)
- Changes in digestion or appetite
- Pale or floating stools
- Feeling full very quickly when eating
- New-onset diabetes (especially if you’re not overweight)
Important note:
Many people with pancreatic cancer have no symptoms at all until it’s already advanced.
That’s part of what makes it so dangerous — it grows quietly, without obvious warning signs.
So while it’s helpful to know what to look for, it’s also important to understand:
The absence of symptoms doesn’t always mean the absence of a problem.
That’s why early detection is so difficult — and why this disease needs more awareness, more funding, and more conversation.
But it’s also important to note that these symptoms don’t happen in isolation.
Having one of them — like back pain or tiredness — doesn’t mean you have pancreatic cancer.
They’re common complaints with many possible causes.
But if several of these signs show up together, or they’re new, persistent, or feel different to your “normal” — it’s worth getting checked.
Also — when it is pancreatic-related back pain, it often feels better when you lean forward.
That’s a subtle but classic sign, and one we sometimes only realise in hindsight.
Final Thought
This isn’t a post about chiropractic.
It’s a post about paying attention — to your body, to the people you love, and to the signs we sometimes ignore.
If you’ve lost someone to pancreatic cancer, I see you.
If you’re going through it right now, I’m sending you strength.
And if you’re reading this wondering whether to book that GP appointment — do it.
You are not overreacting.
You are not being dramatic.
You are being smart.
Because sometimes, listening to your body is the bravest thing you can do.
If this post makes you pause — share it.
Because silence is how this cancer wins.
And talking about it? That’s how we fight back.
