Stages, types and grades of pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer can start in different types of .
Doctors call pancreatic cancer that starts in the cells that make digestive juices exocrine pancreatic cancer. The information on this page is about a type of exocrine pancreatic cancer called pancreatic . It is the most common type of exocrine pancreatic cancer.
Find out more about the types of pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer can also start in cells that make hormones. This is called endocrine pancreatic cancer or pancreatic neuroendocrine cancer.
Doctors stage and treat these 2 types of pancreatic cancer differently.
The stage of a cancer tells your doctor about its size and whether it has spread. Your doctor gets information from your tests and scans to find the stage.
There are 4 number stages of pancreatic cancer, called stage 1 to 4.
Doctors can also use the TNM system to stage pancreatic cancer. TNM stands for Tumour, Node, Metastases.
Find out more about the TNM staging system for pancreatic cancer
Stage 4 means that the cancer has spread to other areas of the body, such as the liver or lungs. The original (primary) cancer can be any size. And there may or may not be cancer cells in the nearby .
In TNM staging, this is the same as Any T, Any N, M1.
Knowing the cancer stage helps your doctor to decide which treatment to recommend. Treatment also depends on:
your general health and level of fitness
where the cancer has spread to
The stage of the cancer and these other factors can also give your doctor an idea about your outlook (prognosis).
Unfortunately, treatment won’t cure stage 4 pancreatic cancer. But it might help you live longer and relieve symptoms. Doctors call this .
The main treatment for stage 4 pancreatic cancer is . Which chemotherapy you have depends on how well you are. And you might have your treatment as part of a clinical trial.
Other palliative treatments for stage 4 pancreatic cancer include:
radiotherapy - this may help control symptoms such as pain from cancer that has spread to nearby lymph nodes or your bones
a procedure to prevent or relieve symptoms. For example, you may have a small tube (stent) put into the bile duct. This helps clear a blockage and prevents symptoms such as jaundice
medicines to help with pain control or other symptoms such as sickness
Read more about controlling symptoms of advanced pancreatic cancer
aims to relieve symptoms of cancer and improve your quality of life. You can have it at any stage after a diagnosis of advanced cancer.
People who are too unwell to have chemotherapy or other procedures to help relieve side effects can benefit from palliative care. This can be either in the hospital or at home.
Find out more about palliative care
Last reviewed: 20 Aug 2026
Next review due: 20 Aug 2029
Most people are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer after they become unwell and go to A&E. Others start by seeing their GP. Find out what to expect when you see your GP and any tests you might have.
Stage means the size of the cancer and whether it has spread. Type is the type of cell it started from. Grade means how abnormal the cells look. Knowing this information helps doctors recommend the best treatment.
Pancreatic cancer is often diagnosed at an advanced stage. Unfortunately, advanced pancreatic cancer cannot normally be cured but there are treatments you can have to control symptoms and improve your quality of life.
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.
Survival depends on many factors including the stage and type of pancreatic cancer. No one can say how long you will live, so the statistics on this page are just a guide.
Pancreatic cancer is cancer that starts in the pancreas. Find out about the pancreas and how it works.
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