Pancreatic cancer and supportive care--pancreatic exocrine insufficiency negatively impacts on quality of life.

Abstract

Pancreatic cancer is a fatal cancer with a median survival from diagnosis of around 5 months Speer et al. (Med J Aust 196(8):511-515, 2012). Given the short survival time for people with pancreatic cancer, effective supportive care is imperative to enable best quality of life. This article presents an unexpected finding from research into the psychosocial supportive care needs of people affected by pancreatic cancer that management of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency is an area of unmet need that severely impacts on quality of life and increases carer burden in people affected by pancreatic cancer.