10 symptoms of pancreatic cancer explained as D'Angelo dies aged 51
The disease is dubbed the 'silent killer'
Neo-soul pioneer D'Angelo has died at the age of 51 after a 'prolonged and courageous' battle with cancer, his family confirmed.
The Grammy award-winning musician passed away on Tuesday, October 14. He reportedly died from pancreatic cancer.
D'Angelo was considered one of the pivotal figures in the neo-soul movement, combining elements of soul, funk, jazz and R&B. He broke through with debut album Brown Sugar in 1995, which went platinum.
His second album, 2000's Voodoo, included the hit 'Untitled (How Does It Feel),' which gained attention for its minimalist music video and boosted him to new levels of fame. D'Angelo also collaborated with artists including Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu and his former partner Angie Stone, who he shares a son with. Stone died in a car crash earlier this year at the age of 63.
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In a statement to Variety, his family said: "The shining star of our family has dimmed his light for us in this life…After a prolonged and courageous battle with cancer, we are heartbroken to announce that Michael D’Angelo Archer, known to his fans around the world as D’Angelo, has been called home, departing this life today, October 14th, 2025.
"We are saddened that he can only leave dear memories with his family, but we are eternally grateful for the legacy of extraordinarily moving music he leaves behind."
They concluded: "We ask that you respect our privacy during this difficult time but invite you all join us in mourning his passing while also celebrating the gift of song that he has left for the world."
Some 67,440 Americans will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer this year, making up 3.3 percent of all new cancer cases, as per the National Cancer Institute.
What is pancreatic cancer?
The pancreas has two main functions; it makes enzymes that help us digest food, and creates hormones to help manage our blood sugar.
It's located in the upper abdomen, behind the stomach and in front of the spine.
The Mayo Clinic explains the most common type of pancreatic cancer begins in the cells of the ducts that carry digestive enzymes out of the pancreas, known as pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.
Worryingly, pancreatic cancer is rarely found early because symptoms don't tend to show until it has spread to other parts of the body.
Because of this, Royal College of Nursing magazine says, the disease is often referred to as 'the silent killer'.
Symptoms of pancreatic cancer
While symptoms might not come on until the cancer is more advanced, it's still important to be aware of them.
Mayo Clinic highlights 10 main symptoms of pancreatic cancer to look out for.
Many are subtle and could be chalked up to other shorter-term illnesses or lifestyle habits.
These include abdominal pain that spreads to the back and sides, loss of appetite and weight loss.
Tiredness, weakness and itchiness could also be indicators.
Symptoms might also show up when using the toilet; you might notice light-colored or floating stools and dark-colored urine.
Other signs including jaundice, where the skin and eyes turn yellow. This is caused by the cancer blocking the bile duct which is responsible for delivering bile from the liver to the small intestine. Bile, which helps break down food, contains bilirubin, a yellow substance. So a blockage can cause of build-up of bilirubin in your blood, leading to jaundice, as Pancreatic Cancer UK explains.
A new diagnosis of diabetes, or diabetes that's getting harder to control, is also cause for concern. Diabetes occurs when the body has high blood sugar levels because it either doesn't produce enough insulin, or the insulin it produces doesn't work properly.
The final symptom to be aware of is pain and swelling in an arm or leg, which might be caused by a blood clot.
If you have any concerns, contact your GP as soon as possible.
Ellie Kemp