November marks Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, a time to increase understanding of one of the most difficult cancers to diagnose. As with most cancers, early detection offers the best chance of effective treatment. But because pancreatic cancer often develops silently, many people are not diagnosed until the disease is already advanced. This article explores why early diagnosis is so challenging and highlights lessons learned from supporting our clients whose symptoms were missed or overlooked.
What is pancreatic cancer?
The pancreas is a gland located behind the stomach, responsible for producing enzymes that help digest food and hormones such as insulin. When cancer develops in the pancreas, a tumour forms and can affect the organ’s ability to work properly. This may lead to problems digesting food or managing blood sugar levels.
Symptoms of pancreatic cancer can include indigestion, stomach or back pain, changes to bowel habits, unexplained weight loss, reduced appetite, jaundice (such as yellowing of the skin or eyes and itchiness), fatigue or low energy, and a high temperature. Because these symptoms overlap with many more common conditions, pancreatic cancer is easy to miss in its early stages. Many people only receive a diagnosis once the cancer has grown or spread, by which time treatment options become more limited.
Age, pancreatitis, a family history of pancreatic cancer, and lifestyle factors such as smoking and alcohol use may increase a person’s risk. However, pancreatic cancer often occurs without any clear cause.
Missed or delayed diagnosis
We regularly speak with clients whose pancreatic cancer symptoms were mistaken for minor illnesses. Many are only diagnosed after attending A&E, despite earlier visits to their GP with concerning symptoms. Missed opportunities to order appropriate tests, investigate persistent symptoms, or make timely specialist referrals can all contribute to harmful delays.
Pancreatic cancer progresses quickly. More than half of those diagnosed die within three months, and the five-year survival rate remains just 7%. To put this in context, breast cancer has an 86% five-year survival rate. This stark difference shows how vital early action is.
There is currently no national screening programme for pancreatic cancer in the UK. People at increased risk, such as those with certain medical conditions or a strong family history, may be offered monitoring, but for most, diagnosis relies on recognising symptoms and seeking medical advice promptly. If you have concerns, it is important to speak to your GP and ensure your symptoms are thoroughly investigated.
We are here to help
Sadly, medical care does not always meet the standard patients deserve. Some of our clients have experienced long delays, missed symptoms, or failures to refer them for the tests needed to diagnose pancreatic cancer at an earlier stage.
Enable Law specialises in supporting people affected by delays in cancer diagnosis. If you are worried that your pancreatic cancer should have been identified sooner, or if you have concerns about the care you received, we are here to help. To speak to a member of our team contact us on 0800 044 8488 or fill in our contact form so we can arrange to call you at a time convenient to you.
