The impact of our research
Pancreatic cancer moves fast. In its early stages, it often has no symptoms, which can lead to late diagnosis. For many patients, this means the cancer has already spread to other organs and makes treatment challenging.
Our QIMR Berghofer researchers are running projects across the cancer control spectrum to help reduce risk, allow for earlier diagnosis, and develop better treatments.
We’re appealing to the main carers of people with pancreatic cancer to participate in an innovative trial to evaluate support services. Our goal is to ensure all patients and families receive sufficient support after a diagnosis.
Our Pancreatic Cancer Pathways to Diagnosis Study (the Pathways Study) aims to understand how Australians reach their diagnoses so we can improve diagnostic tools and support for GPs.
The Pancreatic Cancer Relatives Counselling and Education Support Service or PRoCESS trial aims to identify whether talking to a trained nurse-counsellor via video or phone is helpful.
About pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer occurs in the pancreas, a small organ behind the stomach and in front of the spine. The pancreas plays a vital role in maintaining the body’s blood sugar levels and assisting with digestion.
Pancreatic cancer is a serious disease and can interfere with the proper functioning of the pancreas.
It moves fast and often has no symptoms in its early stages when it’s easier to treat. It’s often diagnosed at a late stage, leaving patients and their families in distress with limited time to come to terms with their illness.
While most cases occur in adults over the age of 60, younger people can also be affected.
People recently diagnosed with diabetes are at risk, as well as those who suffer from chronic pancreatitis.
One of the major challenges of pancreatic cancer is that it often doesn’t show symptoms in the early stages. When symptoms do occur, they vary between individuals and can include:
- abdominal pain
- loss of appetite
- vomiting or nausea
- sudden weight loss
- jaundice, which leads to yellowish skin and eyes, and dark urine
- the onset of diabetes. Around 10–20% of people with pancreatic cancer have diabetes.
Treatment for pancreatic cancer can include:
- surgery to remove the tumour
- chemotherapy
- radiation.
In its early stages, surgery is the most common treatment. However, many patients are diagnosed when tumours have spread beyond the pancreas and can no longer be surgically removed.
There are limited treatment options for late-stage pancreatic cancer, and these factors combined result in a low survival rate for patients.