New Pancreatic Cancer Resources to Support Earlier Diagnosis and Better Care

As frontline clinicians across a range of settings, awareness of emerging pathways and resources is essential to ensuring patients are identified earlier and supported more effectively throughout their cancer journey. Through the National Pancreatic Cancer Roadmap, led by Cancer Australia, a series of national projects are underway to address some of the most significant challenges in pancreatic cancer care, including late diagnosis and inconsistent access to supportive services.

As part of this work, the University of Queensland has partnered with Cancer Australia to develop practical resources focused on early detection and diagnosis. This includes strengthening recognition of often subtle and non-specific symptoms, and supporting clinicians to initiate appropriate investigations sooner. Importantly, this work also focuses on improving identification of individuals at high genetic risk, enabling more targeted surveillance and earlier intervention.

Complementing this, the University of Melbourne, in collaboration with Cancer Australia and key stakeholders, is leading the development of resources to support more timely access to pain management and palliative care.

This includes a standardised rapid access pathway to specialist pain services, incorporating pain assessment tools, clinical guidance, and patient information. In parallel, a structured pathway for early referral to palliative care has been developed to support earlier intervention, improve quality of life, and enhance care coordination for patients and families.

Together, these initiatives reflect a more integrated approach to pancreatic cancer care, spanning diagnosis, surveillance, symptom management, and palliative support. For cancer nurses, these resources provide practical tools to strengthen clinical decision-making, streamline referrals, and ensure patients receive the right care at the right time.

To support implementation, two accredited education modules have also been developed, providing an opportunity to build knowledge and confidence in applying these pathways in practice.

We encourage members to explore these resources and education modules, and to consider how they can be embedded into local practice to support earlier diagnosis and improved care for people affected by pancreatic cancer.