Pancreatic Cancer

Counseling

Oncology social workers help you cope with the emotional and practical challenges of pancreatic cancer. Contact us at 800‑813‑HOPE (4673) or info@cancercare.org.
Learn more about counseling.

Resource Navigation

Learn more about how CancerCare Resource Navigation can help you address barriers to care.

Financial Assistance

Find resources and support to manage your financial concerns. Limited assistance from CancerCare^® is available to eligible families for cancer-related costs.

Support Groups

Connect with others in our free support groups led by oncology social workers.

Online

• Pancreatic Cancer Caregiver Support Group
• Pancreatic Cancer Patient Support GroupNew

Community Programs

Learn about and view the full calendar of our free community programs.

Specialized Programs

CancerCare offers specialized programs to address specific populations and concerns.

Coping Circle Workshops

Virtual educational and supportive workshops led by oncology social workers and qualified co-facilitators. These workshops cover numerous topics and are offered in English and Spanish.

Connect Education Workshops

Listen in by telephone or online as leading experts in oncology provide up-to-date information about cancer-related issues in one-hour workshops. Podcasts are also available.

Upcoming Workshops

General Topics

• Children as Caregivers for a Loved One with Cancer, Jun 24, 2025
• Addressing the LGBTQI+ Health Disparities Gap, Jun 25, 2025

Podcasts

Pancreatic Cancer

• Highlights from the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting: The Art and Science of Cancer Care from Comfort to Cure, Sep 24, 2024
• Pancreatic Cancer: Treatment Update, May 15, 2024

General Topics

• Current Perspectives on the Future of Cancer Research, Jun 5, 2025
• Understanding How Health Care Disparities May Influence Your Cancer Treatment and Care, Jun 2, 2025
• Cancer & the Workplace: Understanding Your Legal Protections, Apr 30, 2025
• Understanding the Cost of Care & Your Health Care Coverage, Apr 23, 2025
• Managing Eye and Vision Changes Related to Cancer Treatments, Apr 21, 2025
• Trends in Oncology & Treatment Planning: A Guide to Getting the Best Care, Apr 16, 2025
• Coping with Cancer, Mar 12, 2025
• Understanding the Different Names for Biomarker Testing and Their Role in Selecting the Best Treatment for You, Mar 10, 2025
• Understanding the Important Role that Biomarker Testing Plays in Informing the Treatment of Cancer, Mar 3, 2025
• Clinical Trials: How They Transform the Treatment of Cancer, Feb 4, 2025
• Understanding Treatment-Related Skin Toxicity: Practical Tips to Cope with Rash, Dry/Itchy/Peeling Skin and Nail Changes, Jan 17, 2025
• Cancer in the Workplace, Health Insurance, Finances and Returning to School, Dec 13, 2024
• Challenges Young Adults with Cancer Face: Coping Tips, Dec 6, 2024
• Chemotherapy: Novel Approaches to Prevent and Manage Gastrointestinal Treatment Side Effects, Nov 22, 2024
• Caregiving for Your Loved One with Cancer, Sep 23, 2024
• Current Perspectives on Cancer Survivorship, Sep 10, 2024
• Current Perspectives on the Future of Cancer Research, Jun 27, 2024
• How Health Care Disparities May Influence Your Cancer Treatment, Jun 17, 2024
• What’s New in Precision Medicine, Jun 12, 2024
• Caring for Your Loved One with Cancer, May 13, 2024
• Diverse Populations Participating in Decisions about Your Care, Apr 22, 2024
• Managing Eye and Vision Changes Related to Cancer Treatments, Apr 8, 2024
• Understanding the Different Names for Biomarker Testing & Their Role in Selecting the Best Treatment for You, Mar 4, 2024
• Chemotherapy: Novel Approaches to Prevent and Manage Gastrointestinal Treatment Side Effects, Feb 16, 2024
• Understanding the Important Role that Biomarker Testing Plays in Informing the Treatment of Cancer, Feb 12, 2024
• Young Adult Survivorship: Fertility, Sexuality and Intimacy, Feb 9, 2024
• Addressing the LGBTQI+ Health Disparities Gap, Jan 19, 2024
• Challenges Young Adults with Cancer Face: Coping Tips, Dec 15, 2023
• Current Perspectives on Cancer Survivorship, Nov 28, 2023
• Diverse Populations Participating in Decisions About Your Care With Your Health Care Team, Jun 28, 2023
• Understanding Diagnostic Technologies and Biomarkers, Jun 26, 2023
• Addressing the LGBTQI+ Health Disparities Gap, Jun 16, 2023
• Taking Your Pills on Schedule: Its Importance in Managing Cancer, May 24, 2023
• Understanding How Health Care Disparities May Influence Your Cancer Treatment and Care: With Tips and Strategies to Find the Best Cancer Treatment and Health Care Team for You, May 15, 2023
• Current Perspectives on Cancer Survivorship, May 2, 2023
• Taking Your Pills on Schedule: Why It Is So Important in Managing Cancer, May 4, 2022
• Current Perspectives on Cancer Survivorship, May 3, 2022
• Current Perspectives on Cancer Survivorship, Feb 9, 2021
• The 9/11 Community, Cancer & COVID-19, Jan 25, 2021
• Managing the Cost of Living with Cancer, Sep 23, 2020
• Veterans Living with Cancer, Jun 26, 2020
• What are Biosimilars? Understanding Their Role in Cancer Treatment: Current and Future Perspectives, Jun 18, 2020
• Current Perspectives in Cancer Survivorship, Jun 16, 2020
• Cancer and The Workplace: Understanding Your Legal Protections, Mar 25, 2020
• Understanding the Costs of Care and Your Health Care Coverage, Mar 18, 2020
• Joys and Challenges of Pets in Your Home When You Have Cancer, Apr 8, 2019
• Mind Body Techniques to Cope with the Stresses of Cancer, Nov 15, 2017
• Managing Sensory Disruptions During Cancer Treatments, Dec 5, 2016
• Nutrition and Healthy Eating Tips During and After Cancer Treatments, Feb 1, 2016

Publications

Read or order our free Connect booklets and fact sheets offering easy-to-read information about the latest cancer treatments, managing side effects and coping with cancer.

Pancreatic Cancer

• After a Pancreatic Cancer Diagnosis: Questions to Ask Your Doctor
• Coping With Pancreatic Cancer
• Treatment Update: Pancreatic Cancer

General Topics

• Coping With Cancer: Tools to Help You LiveNew
• Caregiving for Your Loved One With Cancer
• Talking to Children When a Loved One Has Cancer
• Communicating With Your Health Care Team
• Sources of Financial Assistance
• Finding Resources in Your Community
• If You've Just Been Diagnosed
• What Can I Say to a Newly Diagnosed Loved One?
• Advice for Caregivers: How Can You Help Yourself?

Ask CancerCare

Every month, featured experts answer your questions about coping with cancer. View all questions and answers.

Pancreatic Cancer

• Q.

  I've been recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and want to know if the back pain I am experiencing worsens over time? How can I manage it?

  A.

  Unfortunately, pain is very common with a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. The good news is that often the pain lessens as the chemotherapy and/or radiation works to shrink the tumor. Speak with your oncologist or radiologist about how to best manage your pain. There are now a variety of pain medications that can lessen your pain without harsh side effects.

  Prepare for the discussion with your doctor by keeping track of your pain by writing down:

  • When and where you experience pain
  • What is the intensity of your pain (use a scale of 1 to 10, or verbal scale of mild, moderate, severe)
  • Does anything make your pain worse?
  • Does anything relieve your pain?
  • How is pain affecting your everyday life?

  Because pain can be difficult to describe, it might be helpful to have friends or family share their assessments as well. It’s always a good idea to bring someone with you to any appointment; another set of ears can help reduce confusion. I recommend that you bring a list of questions to the appointment and have someone write down the doctor’s responses. People sometimes even bring a recording device - just make sure to ask the doctor for permission.

  For more information read our publications, Managing Cancer Pain, Communicating With Your Health Care Team, and “Opening the Door to Effective Pain Management”.

  And finally, the American Pain Society offers useful information.

  Answered by
  Elizabeth Ezra, MSW, OSW-C, LCSW

  ∞ Direct link to this question

  Tags:

  pancreatic cancerpain
• Q.

  My husband was recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and I'm confused and frightened by all the information I'm finding on the internet. Can you help?

  A.

  After being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, one is often faced with numerous questions and decisions to make in a short amount of time. While pancreatic cancer can be a difficult diagnosis, much progress has been made. Doctors have established a standard of care protocol for people able to have surgery (known as the Whipple Procedure) as well as for those for whom surgery is not an option.

  There is an overwhelming amount of information on the internet and I recommend these reputable resources:

  The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) is an organization that provides information about treatment options, specialists, clinical trials, support groups, diet and nutrition. They work to increase funding for research and awareness of pancreatic cancer.

  The Hirshberg Foundation for Pancreatic Research and the National Cancer Institute’s Cancer can provide up-to-date diagnosis and treatment information.

  View all of CancerCare’s pancreatic cancer resources.

  Answered by
  Elizabeth Ezra, MSW, OSW-C, LCSW

  ∞ Direct link to this question

  Tags:

  pancreatic cancer
• Q.

  I was diagnosed last fall with Stage 2 pancreatic cancer. The survival rates are not great, but I am quite hopeful. My 18-year-old daughter, however, has told me that she cannot be hopeful because she can't handle being let down if I die. While this makes sense to me, what can I do to help her?

  A.

  Everyone responds differently to a cancer diagnosis – some people are optimistic, and others, like your daughter, are afraid to be hopeful. Your ability to respect your daughter’s views and understand the difficulty she is having with your diagnosis is important. While you may not be able to change her outlook, you can be supportive of her through this challenging situation.

  Encourage your daughter to share her thoughts and feelings about your diagnosis with you. What are her fears? Worries? Hopes? Allowing her to express her feelings freely can provide you with the opportunity to talk openly about your situation. You can even start the conversation by sharing your own worries, hopes, and fears with her. Telling her that you, too, have uncertainties will help to validate her feelings and make it easier for her to open up.

  Communication is the key for families coping with cancer. By opening up to your daughter, you are showing her that it’s okay to discuss her feelings. The fact that she has expressed her fears about being let down indicates that she feels the two of you have a trusting relationship. It is understandable that you want your daughter to be optimistic; however, your being able to accept her fears gives her permission to share exactly how she is feeling.

  Teens often struggle talking with their parents about illness. Look to adult relatives, teachers, and coaches as potential sources of support for your daughter. She may also benefit from talking one-on-one with a counselor. She can call us and speak with an oncology social worker and we can also help her find local support services.

  Your daughter might also find helpful resources online that are specifically designed for teens with a parent with cancer, such as Cancer Really Sucks.

  For yourself, CancerCare offers support groups for people coping with coping with cancer. This is a safe place to discuss all the concerns and issues that arise from your diagnosis. Please contact us at 1-800-813-HOPE (4673) for more information.

  Answered by
  Wade Iwata, MSW, LMSW

  ∞ Direct link to this question

  Tags:

  pancreatic canceradolescents and teens

From Our Blog

• Monthly Staff Feature: Human Resources
• In Memory of Wanda
• New Financial Assistance Available to Help Cancer Patients Get to Treatment
• Lyu Family Raises $10,000 to Help Others Affected by Cancer
• CancerCare Publishes New Guide to the Latest Treatment and Research Updates
• Financial Assistance Available for People with Pancreatic Cancer

Featured Resource

Magnolia Meals at Home

A meal delivery program that helps patients by providing nourishing meals to households affected by cancer. Is currently available in and around Woodcliff Lake, NJ and Andover, MA, Raleigh-Durham, NC and New Haven, CT (as well areas in New York, New Hampshire and Boston, MA). For more information please visit magnoliamealsathome.com or contact Kathy Nugent, LCSW at 800-813-4673, ext. 6809.

Stories of Help and Hope

Read inspiring personal accounts from people affected by cancer and the ways they've found to cope.

• Sandy M., Diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and bereaved