Living with pancreatic cancer
Unfortunately, pancreatic cancer has usually already spread when it is diagnosed. This means the cancer is either locally advanced (stage 3) or has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic cancer or stage 4). Pancreatic cancer that has spread cannot usually be removed or cured. But your doctor may suggest treatment to try to slow its growth and help you feel as well as possible.
Even if the cancer is diagnosed at an earlier stage, you are likely to feel very uncertain and anxious about the future. You may find it impossible to think about anything other than having cancer.
Some people say a diagnosis of cancer helps them appreciate ordinary everyday things much more than they did.
If you have advanced cancer you might need to work out your priorities. Think about how you want to spend your time - what is important to you and what is not.
Some of your future plans may no longer be realistic. But you do not have to abandon them all. You may be able to adapt some. And you may get round to doing something you have always wanted to do, but were not able to make time for.
Talk with your doctor about managing your treatment around your plans. Or you may be able to have your treatment at the same time. Your specialist nurse will be able to support you and help you arrange this.
You might have a number of different feelings when you're told you have cancer.
You may feel a range of powerful emotions at first such as feeling shocked, upset and find it difficult to take in anything else that is being said to you. Other emotions include feeling:
numb
frightened and uncertain
confused
angry and resentful
guilty
sad
You may have some or all of these feelings. Or you might feel totally different. This can leave you feeling overwhelmed and exhausted.
Everyone reacts in their own way. Sometimes it's hard to take in the fact that you have cancer at all. You need to do what’s right for you to help you cope.
There is no right way to handle the news. And experiencing different feelings is a natural part of coming to terms with your diagnosis. These feelings are likely to come and go. Some may even come up when you are not expecting them.
You may think you should talk about your feelings with your partner, other family members or close friends. But this can be really hard to do and it may take time for you to feel ready. Or you might want to talk to someone straight away so you can work out how you feel first.
Read more about cancer and your emotions
You may be more able to cope and make decisions if you have information about your type of cancer and its treatment. Information helps you to know what to expect.
Taking in information can be difficult, especially when you have just been diagnosed or given news about your outlook. Make a list of questions before you see your doctor. Take someone with you to remind you what you want to ask. They can also help you to remember the information that was given. Getting a lot of new information can feel overwhelming.
Ask your doctors and specialist nurses to explain things again if you need them to.
You might feel that you don’t want to know much information straight away. Tell your doctor or nurse. You will always be able to ask for more information when you feel ready.
Remember that you don’t have to sort everything out at once. It might take some time to deal with each issue. Ask for help if you need it.
You can also do practical things such as:
making lists to help you
having a calendar with all appointments
having goals
planning enjoyable things around weeks that might be emotionally difficult for you
Specialist nurses can help if you’re finding it difficult to cope or if you have any problems. They can get you the help you need. They can also give you information and signpost you to support in your local area.
Specialist nurses are usually your first point of call if you have any questions or concerns. Make sure you know who your specialist nurse is and have their telephone number.
Talking to your friends and relatives about the cancer can help and support you. But some people are scared of the emotions this could bring up and won’t want to talk. They might worry that you won't be able to cope with your situation or be afraid they will say the wrong thing.
It can strain relationships if your family or friends don't want to talk. But talking can help increase trust and support between you and them.
Help your family and friends by letting them know if you would like to talk about what’s happening and how you feel. Or you may prefer to see a counsellor.
Find out about counselling and cancer
Some people find great comfort in religion. You might find it helpful to talk to:
a local minister
a hospital chaplain
a religious leader of your faith
Cancer Chat is our fully moderated forum where you can talk to others affected by cancer, share experiences, and get support. Cancer Chat is free to join and available 24 hours a day.
You may find it helpful to go to a support group to talk to other people affected by pancreatic cancer.
Find out about pancreatic cancer support organisations
A cancer diagnosis affects family and friends, too. We have tips and ways to support someone with cancer. And there are things you can do to support yourself if someone you love has cancer.
Find out more about supporting someone with cancer and taking care of yourself
Pancreatic cancer and its treatment may cause physical changes in your body.
Some changes may be as a result of the cancer or the treatment. This can include scars after surgery, or hair loss after chemotherapy. These may affect the way you feel about yourself. They can affect your self esteem and how you relate to family, friends and other people.
It is important that you feel as well as you possibly can. If you have symptoms let your doctor or nurse know. They can work with you to help control the symptoms and improve your physical well being.
Let your doctor or nurse know if you have pain so they can give you painkillers or arrange other treatments to help with it. You should also tell them how well the painkillers are working so they can get the amount you need just right.
Find out more about cancer pain and how to manage it
is common with pancreatic cancer. This can make you itch and feel sick. Your doctor or specialist nurse may suggest some creams, medicines or a having a thin tube (stent) put into your bile duct to help with this.
Read more about controlling the symptoms of pancreatic cancer
The cancer, or surgery to remove all or part of your pancreas can cause diabetes. Your doctor or nurse will talk to you about any medicines you need to take for it and how to control your blood sugar.
Pancreatic cancer can make you feel very tired and lack energy a lot of the time. This is called fatigue. Tiredness may be worse during and after treatment, or if the cancer is advanced.
Find out about ways to manage fatigue
Most people who have pancreatic cancer lose their appetite and lose weight. Speak to your specialist nurse or dietitian about any eating problems.
Read about coping with diet problems when you have pancreatic cancer
The physical and emotional changes you have might affect your relationships and sex life. There are things that you can do to manage this.
Read about cancer, relationships and sex
Your doctor or specialist nurse will help you manage any changes. They can also refer you to other health professionals who can help. This may include:
the
other specialist doctors
Find out more about coping physically with cancer
You and your family might need to cope with practical things including:
money matters
financial support, such as benefits, sick pay, prescription costs and grants
work issues
early retirement
childcare
Blue Badge applications
help with travel costs
changes to your house
Talk to your doctor or specialist nurse to find out who can help. You might be able to get some benefits for yourself and the person caring for you. You might also be able to get grants for heating costs, holidays and other household expenses related to your illness.
Getting help early with these things can mean that they don’t become a big issue later. It may be helpful to see a social worker. Many hospitals have a social worker available for people with cancer.
Read more about the practical support that is available to you
You might need care and support at home due to pancreatic cancer or its treatment. There is practical and emotional support available to you.
Your GP manages your healthcare when you are at home. Your specialist doctor will update your GP about your cancer care. Your GP can help with any medical problems that come up. They can also make referrals to a community service for you. The availability of the different community services may vary depending on where you live.
These nurses work in different places in your local area and may visit you in your home. They can:
give medicines or injections
check temperature, blood pressure and breathing
clean and dress wounds
monitor or set up drips
give emotional support
teach basic caring skills to family members where needed
get special equipment such as hospital beds, special mattresses, commodes or bed pans
Community services vary from area to area. Your hospital specialist nurse can tell you what is locally available to you.
Community specialist palliative care nurses include Macmillan nurses and hospice nurses. They specialise in symptom management such as pain control, sickness, and other cancer symptoms. They also give emotional support to you and your carers.
Marie Curie nurses give nursing care to people with advanced cancer in their own homes. They can visit during the day or spend the night in your home to give your carers a break.
Social workers can help to support you with your situation at home. They can arrange:
home helps to help with shopping or housework
home care assistants for washing and dressing
meals on wheels
respite care
Your social worker can also help with money matters by checking you get all the benefits you are entitled to. Or they can advise you about charity grants for things like extra heating costs or special diets.
Contact a social worker yourself by getting in touch with your local social services office. Or ask your hospital nurse or your GP to refer you.
There is usually other help available but services can vary from place to place.
Sometimes local voluntary groups offer sitting services. Someone comes to stay with you while your relative goes out.
Good neighbour schemes offer befriending or practical help with shopping or transport.
Local cancer support groups often offer practical help. And they are a good source of information about services in your area. Ask your doctor or nurse about local groups.
It’s natural to want to find out what is likely to happen in the last few weeks or days of life. And you might need to make some decisions, such as where you want to be looked after and who you want to care for you.
But not everyone is ready to read about what happens when they, or someone they care for, is dying. Some of the information can be upsetting and difficult to cope with. You might want to skip this information and come back to it later. Or if you do want to read more, you may want to have someone close by to support you.
Last reviewed: 29 Jun 2026
Next review due: 29 Jun 2029
There is practical and emotional support available to help you cope with a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, and life during and after treatment.
Many people with pancreatic cancer lose weight and they can become diabetic. They usually also need to take pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) to help them digest their food.
Your treatment depends on the position of the cancer in the pancreas, how big it is, the type of pancreatic cancer, whether it has spread, if they can remove it with surgery and your general health.
Coping with cancer can be difficult. There is help and support available. Find out about the emotional, physical and practical effects of cancer and how to manage them.
There are many organisations, support groups and other resources to help you and your friends, family and carers cope with a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.
Pancreatic cancer starts in the pancreas. This is the gland that produces digestive juices and hormones such as insulin. Find out more including treatments, survival and coping with pancreatic cancer.
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