There are four common symptoms that we’ve all likely experienced at some point or another that could actually be the first sign of pancreatic cancer.
The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2025, roughly 67,440 Americans will be diagnosed with this type of cancer – split 34,950 men and 32,490 women – while a further 51,980 are anticipated to die of pancreatic cancer, 27,050 of those being male.
Pancreatic cancer makes up around three per cent of all cancers in the US and around eight per cent of all cancer-related deaths.
One of the earliest clues of pancreatic cancer can actually appear in the legs before any stomach pain or jaundice kicks in.
According to medical experts, sometimes the first red flag isn’t in the pancreas at all – it’s a blood clot.
Doctors say a blood clot in a large vein, usually in the leg, can be a warning sign of something much more serious going on inside the body.
Illustration of a man’s pancreas tumour (Getty stock)
This condition, known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT), can happen for a number of reasons, but in some cases, it’s linked to pancreatic cancer.
There are four symptoms related to DVT – these are, pain, swelling, redness and warmth in the affected leg.
While these might sound like fairly common symptoms, they can sometimes be the body’s way of signalling that a tumour is quietly growing.
Worryingly, clots can also break loose and travel to the lungs, causing a pulmonary embolism (PE), which can make it difficult to breathe and can be life-threatening.
Pancreatic cancer is particularly dangerous because it often doesn’t show obvious symptoms in its early stages, meaning that by the time many people notice something is wrong, the cancer has already grown or spread.
Doctors will undertake an ultrasound to scan your belly in the process of searching for a pancreatic tumor (Getty stock)
Other early warning signs can be more subtle, such as persistent fatigue or weakness that isn’t linked to exercise, or jaundice – where the skin and eyes turn yellow due to a buildup of bilirubin.
Some people also notice darker urine, pale or greasy stools, and itchy skin.
Unexplained weight loss and a loss of appetite are also common, and abdominal or back pain can appear as the tumour grows. If it presses on nearby organs or nerves, it can lead to persistent discomfort that doesn’t go away easily.
Experts say pancreatic cancer can also affect the liver and gallbladder, sometimes causing these organs to enlarge – and in some cases, it may also trigger diabetes by damaging the pancreas’ ability to produce insulin.
But while many of these symptoms can be caused by other, far less serious conditions, health professionals urge people not to brush them off – especially if blood clot symptoms appear with no clear cause.
The image of a Secret Service agent asleep in public while on duty at the U.N. General Assembly, leaving a fully automatic rifle unattended, became a symbol of the agency’s DEI-driven decline under the Biden administration. This agent, overweight and unable to meet fitness standards, had been retained due to politically motivated quotas rather than merit, raising questions about the agency’s ability to protect President Trump.
When Sean Curran took over as director of the Secret Service, he faced an agency undermined by years of cronyism, mismanagement, and DEI priorities that had placed optics over operational readiness.
Curran, a veteran from Trump’s campaign detail, immediately set out to restore the agency’s elite status, focusing on accountability, merit-based promotions, and core mission priorities.
Two assassination attempts on Trump’s life, followed by evasive explanations from the previous leadership, exposed the vulnerabilities created by DEI policies and a lax culture.
Under former director Kimberly Cheatle, initiatives like “30×30” prioritized hiring women to meet quotas, sometimes at the expense of physical fitness and protective experience. Overweight agents who could not pass standard fitness tests were retained, creating obvious security risks.
Curran has shifted the Office of Equity and Employee Support Services back to its original Equal Employment Opportunity mission, eliminating DEI mandates while still addressing legitimate workplace grievances.
Critics, however, continue to scrutinize Curran’s decision to retain DEI advocates like Darnelly De Jesus, who oversee disciplinary actions, citing potential conflicts of interest and lingering influence from prior leadership.
Despite these challenges, the agency has made tangible improvements, creating the Aviation and Airspace Security Division to monitor drones and reallocating resources to ensure threats are prioritized effectively.
Curran has banned uniformed officers from wearing rainbow-colored pride pins or patches and emphasized strict adherence to professional standards, reflecting Trump’s executive order eliminating DEI programs across federal agencies.
Senior agents note that the Secret Service previously accepted underqualified recruits, including those without prior law enforcement experience, leading to weakened operational capability.
Last year, amid fallout from the Butler assassination attempt, the agency attempted to retain agents with bonuses up to 25% of their salaries, but the real problem had been systemic: DEI policies that undermined morale and mission focus.
Veterans like Rashid Ellis publicly blame DEI for the near-assassination of Trump, arguing that gender quotas and diversity initiatives distorted promotions and assignments.
Curran has countered these issues by emphasizing merit-based assignments, ensuring the right person is in the right position, and focusing on protective readiness above all else.
Critics of the prior DEI-focused leadership point to incidents such as the Secret Service sending agents to LGBTQI+ conferences overseas during peak campaign periods, distracting from protective duties.
Curran’s reforms also include reestablishing rigorous fitness standards and restoring the traditional pathway to leadership through presidential protective assignments.
While Curran has kept some former Cheatle deputies in leadership, their roles are being recalibrated to align with operational priorities rather than political quotas.
The agency has successfully thwarted threats against Trump and other officials, including arrests for assassination plots and the discovery of a suspicious hunting stand near Air Force One.
Nevertheless, some embarrassing incidents persist, such as missing firearms during security checks or internal disputes among officers, reflecting the legacy of DEI-driven mismanagement.
Sen. Marsha Blackburn has criticized prior DEI policies for diverting focus from the Secret Service’s essential mission: protecting those under threat.
Under Trump and Curran, the Secret Service is now undergoing a transformation similar to reforms in the U.S. military under Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, who eliminated woke initiatives and restored a warrior ethos.
Hegseth’s reforms, emphasizing physical fitness and meritocracy, have revitalized military recruitment and retention — a model that Curran seeks to replicate within the Secret Service.
Trump’s administration has made clear that identity-based hiring, diversity quotas, and politically correct displays have no place in agencies charged with protecting the president.
Curran’s quiet, disciplined approach has focused on tangible results rather than media appearances, reinforcing operational excellence and morale within the ranks.
Agents on Trump and Vice President JD Vance’s details face some of the longest hours and toughest schedules, but Curran’s reforms aim to ensure they are properly trained, supported, and assigned based on skill rather than DEI metrics.