Pancreatic Cancer Action

Our mission is to increase the early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer which saves lives and improve the quality of life for those affected. Pancreatic cancer is the 5th biggest cancer killer in the UK rising to the 4th (overtaking breast cancer) by 2026. 10,000/yr people are diagnosed (men and women) with one person dying every hour, 5-year survival is 7%

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Pharmacies role in pancreatic cancer diagnosis

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society has launched a plan to increase the role of pharmacies in the early diagnosis of cancer.

What does this mean?

If this plan were to go ahead, staff in pharmacies could assess patients and refer those with red flag symptoms directly to the hospital without the need to see their GP. The plans come at a time when average GP wait times have topped two weeks for the first time.

Seeing a highly qualified pharmacist for minor illness, assessment or cancer screening could result in faster referral and diagnosis of cancer as well as freeing up GP time.

Ade Williams, PCA pharmacy ambassador and lead pharmacist at Bedminster Pharmacy, Bristol says:

“I see daily many opportunities to build on this to improve cancer diagnosis and care. Empowering us to make direct referrals will speed up and improve survival from cancers like Pancreatic Cancer.”

The majority of the country lives within a 20-minute walk of their nearest pharmacy and 95% of the population use their pharmacy at least once a year. Local pharmacies are accessible and well placed within communities. Patients visiting their pharmacy frequently or with red flag symptoms, who may not otherwise go to their GP may benefit from the plan.

Pilot studies, where pharmacists referred patients to their GP or directly for screening or diagnostics have been successful in the case of lung and bowel cancer. A pilot study of 33 pharmacies in Northern England found that a common pancreatic cancer symptom, unresolved indigestion, was the second most common cancer symptom that pharmacists referred for.

“With the future role of community pharmacies in the wider NHS being shaped by the new pharmacy contract, this is definitely the right time to take bold steps that will place them alongside GP and secondary care colleagues, fighting cancers like Pancreatic Cancer.” (Ade Williams)

Pharmacists are well placed to review patients presenting multiple times for over the counter medication and who present at appointments asking for advice. Equipping pharmacies with the tools and knowledge to identify red flag cancer symptoms and allowing them to make direct referrals could increase early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer in patients who may not have recognised their symptoms or presented at their GP. This route of referral could reduce the number of patients diagnosed late or through emergency presentation.

What do we think?

We fully support the increased role of pharmacists in the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer and work closely with pharmacies to raise awareness of the disease amongst staff and their local communities. We provide free eLearning modules and resources for pharmacists and their teams to ensure they have the knowledge and confidence to suspect and refer for pancreatic cancer.

We will be monitoring this plan closely to see if it is adopted and evaluate its process. Pharmacists are being increasingly relied on to carry out health interventions previously left to doctors and other primary care professionals.

The extra strain on the service may make delivering appointments difficult for pharmacy staff and the workforce needs to be supported through changes to roles and responsibilities.

Furthermore, if patients are using pharmacies for a wider range of health issues, the link between pharmacists, GPs and secondary care must be improved to avoid patients missing follow up appointments or having to present multiple times to different health care providers.

Final thoughts from Ade

"Pancreatic Cancer Action have for a long time worked with community pharmacy teams, up skilling our disease diagnosis knowledge and supporting local awareness initiatives.

Integrated working and partnership working offer us the most cost effective way forward. Unleashing the expertise of community pharmacies will definitely advance the cancer survival goals thereby saving many lives."

This consistent message from Pancreatic Cancer Action is now becoming a consensus opinion. Let us all make it happen now.

Find out about other work we do with pharmacies across the UK

About us

Pancreatic Cancer Action is a vibrant charity, working towards our vision of a day when everyone is diagnosed early and survives pancreatic cancer. Founded by Ali Stunt in 2010 after her own experience of being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer aged 41, we specifically focus on improving pancreatic cancer survival through early diagnosis throughout the UK.

Decades of underfunding for pancreatic cancer means that there are no early detection tests for pancreatic cancer on the horizon. While no test exists, the key to improving survival rates is getting more patients diagnosed early. The sooner the disease is diagnosed, the better the prognosis. Currently, 5-year survival is less than 7% in the UK, however for patients able to have surgery to remove their tumour this increases up to 30%. We are determined to ensure more people are diagnosed in time to have life-saving surgery – currently the only route to a cure.

Pancreatic cancer is often considered the ‘forgotten cancer’. Its vague symptoms often result in late diagnosis followed by death within months - but sometimes, sadly all too often, within weeks or days. 50% of all diagnoses are made in the A&E department – mostly with advanced, inoperable cancer. Average age of diagnosis is 72 however 40% of patients are now below 69 and the age of diagnosis is notably falling. We want to change these statistics.

Our charitable objectives are to:

Raise public awareness and knowledge of pancreatic cancer and its symptoms – we do this through well targeted campaigns to raise the profile of the disease and encourage people to consider any symptoms they, or people they know may have and visit their GP.
Provide practical resources and raise awareness amongst the healthcare community –healthcare professionals have a vital part to play in early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer which is why we provide free resources and accredited learning for GPs, pharmacists and pancreatic cancer specialists.
Fund research into early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer – we seed funded innovative ideas from outstanding medical researchers who are testing innovative ways of diagnosing pancreatic cancer.
Campaign and lobby the government and key influencers for change – it is important that key stakeholders and policy makers in Government are made aware of the issues surrounding pancreatic cancer. From inequalities in funding, care and survival to access to treatments and the lack of public awareness of the disease, we highlight this wherever we can.
Provide free patient information for those diagnosed and living with pancreatic cancer - we want patients and carers to have credible, evidence-based information on the disease and its treatments. That is why we provide free, comprehensive information in a variety of ways, supporting those who are battling this disease.