New Study Targets Gaps in Pancreatic Cancer Care

Canada is launching a new effort to understand why progress against pancreatic cancer remains so limited, with patients and caregivers being asked to document their experiences with diagnosis, treatment and care.

Craig’s Cause Pancreatic Cancer Society is supporting what it describes as Canada’s first national, ethics approved study focused on the experiences of people affected by the disease. Led by Dalhousie University researcher Dr. Ravi Ramjeesingh, the project will examine gaps in diagnosis, treatment access and cancer management across the health system.

Researchers aim to enrol 500 patients and caregivers, with the goal of capturing the range of challenges experienced in different parts of Canada.

The initiative comes as pancreatic cancer continues to have one of the poorest survival outcomes among major cancers. The five year survival rate has risen only from 5 per cent in 1998 to approximately 12 per cent today.

An estimated 7,500 Canadians are expected to be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2026, while about 6,500 are projected to die from it. The disease is currently Canada’s third leading cause of cancer related deaths, behind lung and colorectal cancers, and is projected to become the second leading cause by 2030.

Stefanie Condon Oldreive, founder of Craig’s Cause Pancreatic Cancer Society, said recent developments involving daraxonrasib have raised expectations among patients while exposing questions about access to emerging therapies.

“The headlines about daraxonrasib have given the pancreatic cancer community renewed hope,” Condon Oldreive said. “But they have also highlighted an important question: if promising treatments aren’t available to Canadians, what other barriers are patients facing?”

The research team plans to use participants’ experiences to identify problems at different stages of the patient journey. Findings will be used to develop recommendations for governments and health care providers, with the longer term objective of improving diagnosis, treatment and management.

For Dr. Floria Tsui, a pancreatic cancer survivor and retired obstetrician and gynecologist in British Columbia, stronger national coordination is essential.

“We need a stronger and united voice to create awareness on the impact of this cancer on patients and caregivers,” Tsui said, calling for better information on treatment options and clinical trials and increased research funding.

Deborah Quaile, a pancreatic cancer patient in remission, said symptoms can resemble other illnesses and contribute to misdiagnosis.

Craig’s Cause is marking its 20th anniversary this year. The organization has funded Canadian research and provided education, awareness and patient support, with funds raised remaining in Canada.

Interested participants can access the survey directly at bit.ly/pancreaticcancersurvey.

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