Introductory guide
About pancreatic cancer
A beginner’s guide for caregivers, people at high risk, and people who are newly diagnosed.
Although considered rare, pancreatic cancer may touch your life more than you realize. Get information on risk factors, screening, diagnosis, treatment, complementary therapies, survivorship, and more.
Why learn about pancreatic cancer?
Pancreatic cancer causes about 7% of cancer-related deaths in the United States. It has one of the lowest five-year survival rates of any major cancer. Sadly, many patients receive diagnoses too late. Distant disease has a 5-year survivability near 3%.
The American Cancer Society’s estimates for 2023 included:
- About 64,050 people (33,130 men and 30,920 women) diagnosed
- About 50,550 people (26,620 men and 23,930 women) who would die of the disease
How NPCF helps people understand this disease
We work to bring awareness and funding to research, testing, and therapy initiatives. We host awareness and fundraising events, publish education, and tell the stories of patients who have fought pancreatic cancer in Our Warriors. We maintain memorials as a way of showing solidarity. Our mission is unwavering support — advocacy, resource sharing, and access to integrative therapies for patients in need.
Why early knowledge matters
Signs and symptoms make this one of the hardest cancers to diagnose. Symptoms are common to other digestive ailments, so it is easy to misdiagnose. Drug therapy often masks gastric issues; imaging is ordered only after that therapy fails. That protocol can delay diagnosis until the cancer has spread and becomes inoperable.
There is still no formal population screening protocol because testing is expensive and invasive. Early diagnosis and treatment can significantly improve survivability beyond 5 years. The hardest part is getting the diagnosis.