Objective：To investigate the experiences of patients with pancreatic cancer from initial symptom occurring to confirmed di－agnosis and to provide strategies for early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer through the effort from both doctors and patients. Methods：Data of 120 patients with pancreatic cancer were analyzed including initial symptom，initial department visited，initial diagnosis，time from initial symptom occurring to confirmed diagnosis，accepting surgery or not and surgery methods，etc. Results：Average time from initial symptom occurring to confirmed diagnosis was 12 weeks. Upper abdominal discomfort，abdominal pain，abdominal distention and indigestion were the first symptoms in 80% patients. Most patients firstly went to see doctors in the department of digestive or Chinese traditional medicine. About one third of patients got the initial diagnosis of gastritis/gastropathy/epigastric pain. Only less than 20% got the correct diagnosis on the first visit. Conclusions：Patients with pancreatic cancer do not exhibit any specific symptoms on the illness onset，thus with a high rate of misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis. Educating doctors in the department of digestive and Chinese traditional medicine and patients with basic knowledge of pancreatic cancer plays a very important role in getting earlier di－agnosis and better prognosis of these patients.