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Pancreatic cancer must be recognised as a national health priority, supported by long-term investment in research, clinical innovation, workforce capability, and equitable access to care.
According to the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data, deaths from pancreatic cancer have almost doubled in the past 20 years, have grown at 2.6 times the rate of cancer-related deaths overall, and now officially take more Australian lives than prostate cancer. Only lung cancer caused more cancer-related deaths in 2024. Urgent intervention is required to change this paradigm for the more than 4500 Australians diagnosed with pancreatic cancer each year.
A significant red flag for policy makers is the fact that the growth trend is getting worse, with pancreatic cancer deaths accelerating 40% in the past decade (2015-2024), compared to 27% in the previous decade (2005-2014), meaning that pancreatic cancer has risen from 1 in every 20 cancer deaths in 2005 to approximately 1 in every 14 cancer deaths in 2024. By comparison, the rate of growth in cancer-related deaths overall remained consistent (approximately 14%) over the last two decades (2005-2014; 2015-2024).
Vague clinical presentations and the absence of a formal population-wide national screening program continue to contribute to late diagnosis and very poor outcomes with the five-year relative survival rate for pancreatic cancer being unacceptably low (14% in the 2017-2021 period).
Poor survival, combined with arduous treatments and high morbidity, also means that people living with pancreatic cancer experience significantly poorer quality of life (QoL) compared with those diagnosed with many other cancer types.
While many other cancers have seen reductions in incidence and mortality alongside improvements in survival, pancreatic cancer remains an enduring and complex challenge for clinicians, researchers, and policy makers.
Current endeavours
In recognition of the poor outcomes associated with pancreatic cancer, the National Pancreatic Cancer Roadmap (the Roadmap) was developed by Cancer Australia. The Roadmap provides a national framework for collective action across 33 priority domains, with the overarching aim of improving outcomes and survival for Australians diagnosed with pancreatic cancer (Cancer Australia, 2025).
To support delivery of the Roadmap, Cancer Australia has partnered with leading universities to develop practical, evidence-based resources for health professionals and patients, and the Pancare Foundation to publish and promote them to Australian consumers and health care professionals. These initiatives target some of the most critical challenges in pancreatic cancer care, including early detection, timely diagnosis, pain management, and early integration of palliative care.
The University of Queensland has led the development of clinical guidance and educational tools focused on early detection and diagnosis—areas where improvements have the greatest potential to influence survival outcomes. These resources are designed to assist primary care practitioners to recognise symptoms suggestive of pancreatic cancer, select appropriate initial investigations, and facilitate timely referral to specialist services. The University of Queensland has also developed a clinical guide to support monitoring of individuals at high risk, outlining clear pathways for surveillance and diagnostic investigations. Strengthening these aspects of primary care practice is intended to reduce diagnostic delay and improve patient outcomes.
Complementing this work, the University of Melbourne—together with HammondCare, the University of Queensland, and the University of Adelaide—has developed resources to improve access to pain management and early integration of palliative care. These include standardised referral pathways, pain assessment tools, and culturally appropriate guidance for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Given the high symptom burden and limited survival associated with pancreatic cancer, effective pain and symptom management are essential components of high-quality supportive care. These resources aim to empower clinicians to deliver timely, patient-centred care that enhances quality of life.
The resources also highlight key risk factors for pancreatic cancer, including family history, smoking, long-term diabetes, chronic pancreatitis, heavy alcohol use, and obesity, while acknowledging that pancreatic cancer can occur in individuals without identifiable risk factors. Collectively, these initiatives provide practical, evidence-based strategies to support clinicians across the continuum of care, from early recognition and diagnosis through to symptom control and palliative care – helping to improve outcomes for Australians affected by pancreatic cancer.
Priorities
Looking ahead, addressing the persistent challenges of pancreatic cancer requires a sustained, coordinated, and well-funded national response. The absence of a population-level screening program (such as those currently available for bowel or breast cancer) places a significant responsibility on healthcare professionals to recognise symptoms early and facilitate timely referrals. However, early recognition alone is insufficient. Systemic change is required.
Investment in research remains critical to accelerating progress across several priority areas:
- Early detection technologies: Developing reliable biomarkers and advanced imaging techniques to identify pancreatic cancer at a curable stage.
- Surveillance of high-risk populations: Identifying and systematically tracking at risk individuals in cost effective ways to identify pancreatic cancer at the earliest possible stage.
- Personalised treatment approaches: Advancing genomic profiling and precision medicine to ensure that new targeted therapies and companion diagnostics are developed and reimbursed.
- Supportive and palliative care: Expanding access to integrated care models that prioritise quality of life for patients and families.
- Public awareness and education: Improving community understanding of risk factors and symptoms to support earlier presentation.
The bleak survival statistics and profound impact on quality of life demand urgent and sustained action. Pancreatic cancer must be recognised as a national health priority, supported by long-term investment in research, clinical innovation, workforce capability, and equitable access to care. By committing to earlier detection, personalised treatment approaches, and comprehensive supportive and palliative care, Australia can begin to change the trajectory of this disease and offer hope to the thousands of families affected each year.
Dr Mark Buzza (PhD MBA) is Head of Research, Innovation and Advocacy at Pancare Foundation.
Melanie Regan (RN BHScNsg GradDip Cancer Care MN) is Special Projects Manager at Pancare Foundation.
The statements or opinions expressed in this article reflect the views of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official policy of the AMA, the MJA or InSight+ unless so stated.
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