Pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer starts in the pancreas, a gland behind the stomach that makes digestive juices and hormones that control blood sugar.
Read moreTrial-stage treatments and research studies you can join
Filters
Support organisations
Umbrella organisations (they connect national groups)
- Digestive Cancers Europe (DiCE)Umbrella organisation
European umbrella of patient groups for digestive cancers, with a list of its members.
- European Cancer Patient Coalition (ECPC)Umbrella organisation
Umbrella of European cancer patient groups, with a patient toolbox and a legal network for cancer patients.
- GI Cancers AllianceUmbrella organisation
Global alliance of 120+ GI cancer advocacy groups; education on biomarker testing and overviews of gastric, oesophageal, liver and bile duct cancers.
- Pancreatic Cancer EuropeUmbrella organisation
Multi-stakeholder platform of experts and patient groups: news, research map, clinical trial listings, patient information.
- World Pancreatic Cancer Coalition (WPCC)Umbrella organisation
Global coalition of pancreatic cancer organisations: member directory with locator map and profiles, World Pancreatic Cancer Day.
General support
For anyone who is ill, whatever the disease: patients' rights and legal aid, crisis lines, hospice and palliative care, care in another EU country, and patient organisations' umbrella bodies.
International
- European Patients' Forum (EPF)Umbrella organisation
Umbrella of European patient organisations and national patient coalitions.
- International Alliance of Patients' OrganizationsUmbrella organisation
Global alliance of patient organisations of all diseases, promoting patient-centred healthcare.
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About Pancreatic cancer
What is pancreatic cancer?
The pancreas sits behind the stomach and in front of the spine. It makes digestive juices and hormones that keep blood sugar in balance. Pancreatic cancer usually starts in the cells that make the digestive juices. Smoking, long-term diabetes, long-lasting inflammation of the pancreas (chronic pancreatitis) and some inherited conditions raise the risk.
What are the signs?
Early pancreatic cancer usually causes no symptoms, and later signs are often vague. They can include yellowing of the skin and eyes, pain in the belly and back, weight loss and tiredness. Because the pancreas lies hidden behind other organs, a doctor cannot see or feel a tumour during a routine check-up. This is why it is hard to catch early.
Current treatment
Surgery + chemo if operable, otherwise chemotherapySource: ESMO
How is it treated today?
Options include surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and, for some people, targeted drugs or immunotherapy. Chemotherapy is usually a combination of several drugs. Tests on the tumour help show whether a targeted drug or immunotherapy might work, but only a small number of pancreatic cancers respond to them. Stents and other procedures can ease symptoms. Joining a clinical trial is encouraged, even at an early stage.
Can it be cured?
Removing the whole tumour with surgery gives the best chance of long-term survival. But many people are diagnosed when the cancer is already advanced and cannot be fully removed. Even after successful surgery, the cancer often comes back, frequently in another part of the body. Palliative care can help ease symptoms such as pain and weight loss.
Machine summary of published research · sources and dates below · 2026-11-06
Written from: MedlinePlus: Pancreatic Cancer (2025-09-27) · NCI: Pancreatic Cancer Treatment (2026-07-30) · read on 2026-11-06