These 'minor' issues in your legs could be a sign of cancer

Seemingly minor health issues affecting the legs could potentially be a sign of something more serious, doctors have warned. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) can sometimes be the first sign of pancreatic cancer - a disease notoriously difficult to treat.

It means it's always important to get issues affecting legs checked out, even if they don't appear to be serious, particularly if people are older. Doctors have listed four signs to look out for which could potentially be something more serious.

Leg symptoms to keep an eye on include pain, swelling, redness and warmth. Catching cancer early is crucial for the best possible outcome, but some cancers, including pancreatic, can be hard to detect due to their location deep within the body.

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People have been told they should be vigilant about any problems affecting the legs signs and see a GP. There are also warnings about a health implication of excessive blood clotting - a potential symptom of the deadly pancreatic cancer. The disease is notorious for turning the blood into a hyper-coagulative state, seriously upping the chances of thrombosis, reports the Mirror.

The Cancer Society cautions: "Having a blood clot does not usually mean that you have cancer. Most blood clots are caused by other things."

Nevertheless, pancreatic cancer remains a top killer due to its sneaky nature with non-obvious signals like dropping weight unintentionally and stomach aches while standing tough against treatments. Dr Santhi Swaroop Vege from Mayo Clinic says that despite medical progress the five-year survival rate hangs at seven per cent, stressing the importance of catching it early.

Due to its location within the body, the pancreas often eludes early diagnosis, with many cases discovered at advanced stages presenting symptoms such as abdominal pain and jaundice. Doctor Vege told the News Network: "That's one of the biggest problems we face. Usually, these people will have indigestion, and acid reflux, before finally somebody thinks of a CT scan."