Palliative care: metastatic pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer is a major cause of cancer-associated death. It is currently the fourth highest cause of cancer death in developed countries.

For those diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, the principles of palliative care are particularly relevant and important.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines palliative care as:

"[A]n approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problem associated with life-threatening illness, through the prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification and impeccable assessment and treatment of pain and other problems, physical, psychosocial and spiritual."

Learning outcomes:

• Understand the risk factors for pancreatic cancer.
• Understand how pancreatic cancer may present and the situations in which an urgent referral is required.
• Understand the principles of symptom management for pancreatic cancer and end of life care.
• Be able to reflect on your own needs when caring for people with life-limiting illness.

Acknowledgements

Written by Claire Hatherell, Honorary Lecturer, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Psychological Medicine, University of Auckland. It was reviewed by Dr Hazel Fuiava, MBChB, Dip Paeds, FRNZCGP.