These pages are a guide to the care people with pancreatic cancer should get from the NHS. Private healthcare may be different.

The information here is based on UK guidelines for managing pancreatic cancer. These include the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines in England, Northern Ireland and Wales, and guidelines for cancer care in Scotland.

Key facts about your care

  • You should be treated with compassion throughout your care.
  • Your medical team should give you information you can understand about your diagnosis and treatment options.
  • They should involve you in decisions about your treatment and care. Read more about your medical team.
  • You should have a key contact. This may be a nurse called a clinical nurse specialist (CNS). They can support you and answer your questions.
  • You and your family should get information about practical and emotional support that’s available.
  • The care you receive should be well coordinated between the different healthcare teams you may see.
  • If you need more support to understand your care, our specialist nurses on our free Support Line can help.
  • If you have any concerns about your care, speak to your doctor or nurse first. They can help to sort it out. They can also tell you how to make a complaint if you need to.

How can I get more support?

We know that dealing with your care can be tiring and confusing. There is support available if you need it.

  • Talk to your doctors and nurses. It’s ok to ask questions and tell them what you think about your care. They can support you.
  • Our specialist nurses are just a call or email away. They are experts in pancreatic cancer. Whether you have a long list of questions or don’t know where to start, they will provide practical, honest information to help you.
  • If you have recently been diagnosed then book a video call with one of our specialist nurses and they can provide you with support and guidance.
  • Ask someone to help you understand and manage your care. This could be a friend or relative, or an independent person.
  • We know it can feel lonely dealing with pancreatic cancer, but sharing your experiences could help. Through the Real Life Stories on our website, you can read other people’s stories or tell your own.
  • Other cancer charities offer support. Examples include Macmillan Cancer Support, Maggie’s, Tenovus Cancer Care in Wales, and Cancer Focus Northern Ireland.
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"I reached out to all the help offered to me from Macmillan, Maggie’s, the hospice and Pancreatic Cancer UK. The support has helped both myself and my loved ones to navigate through this and has provided great comfort when we needed it."

Jenny

Read our booklet about what to expect

All the information on these pages is in our booklet, What to expect from your care if you have pancreatic cancer. You can download a copy, or order it to read at home.

Order a free booklet

Our specialist nurses are here to help

Questions about what to expect from your care? Our friendly nurses are specialists in pancreatic cancer and are only a call or email away.

Speak to our nurses

References and Acknowledgements


References

Email us at publications@pancreaticcancer.org.uk for references to the sources of information used to write this information.

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the following people who reviewed our information on What to expect from your care if you have pancreatic cancer.

  • Alex McAfee, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Belfast Trust
  • Andrew Smith, Consultant HPB Surgeon, Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust, and Clinical Lead National Pancreatic Cancer Audit
  • Euan J Dickson, Consultant Pancreatic and Biliary Surgeon and Scottish HPB Network Lead, NHS Scotland
  • Guy Shingler, Consultant Hepatopancreatobiliary & Laparoscopic Surgeon, Morriston Hospital
  • Lynne Faragher, Clinical Nurse Specialist (CUP and HPB), Edinburgh Cancer Centre
  • Siobhan Thomas, Upper GI/Colorectal Clinical Nurse Specialist, Hywel Dda University Health Board
  • Pancreatic Cancer UK Lay Information Reviewers
  • Pancreatic Cancer UK Specialist Nurses

Updated August 2024

Review date August 2026