NEW RESOURCES AND SURVEILLANCE GUIDES TO SUPPORT EARLY DETECTION OF PANCREATIC CANCER Pancare Foundation disseminates material commissioned by Cancer Australia and developed by UQ and Uni of Melbourne

With
Dr Michael KC Lee,
Medical Oncologist,
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

Dr Mark Buzza,
Head of Research, Innovation and Advocacy,
Pancare Foundation

SEGMENT
Filmed in Melbourne  | February 2026

Pancreatic cancer remains one of Australia’s deadliest cancers, with five-year survival rates hovering at just 14%, with little improvement over several decades. Often called the ‘silent killer’, the disease frequently presents with minimal or vague symptoms, resulting in late diagnoses and poor outcomes. Pancare Foundation is leading the rollout of new clinical resources and surveillance guides to support healthcare professionals in identifying at-risk patients and promoting early detection.

More than 4,500 Australians are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer each year, and the disease is projected to become the second leading cause of cancer-related death by 2030. Despite advances in treatment, the lack of a population-level national screening program, as there is for bowel cancer for example, means that healthcare professionals play a critical role in early detection and patient education.

“Early identification is key,” said Dr Mark Buzza, Head of Research, Innovation and Advocacy, Pancare Foundation. “These new resources provide practical guidance for clinicians on risk assessment, surveillance protocols, and patient communication. By equipping healthcare professionals with the latest evidence-based tools, we can improve detection rates and ultimately patient outcomes.”

The resources highlight key risk factors to be aware of including a family history of pancreatic cancer, smoking, long-term diabetes, chronic pancreatitis, heavy alcohol use, and obesity.

Importantly, pancreatic cancer can also occur in patients without obvious risk factors. Developed by the University of Queensland (alongside their contributors), the new surveillance guides offer clear recommendations for monitoring high-risk individuals, identifying early symptoms, and coordinating referral pathways for diagnostic investigations.

In addition, the University of Melbourne provides pain and palliative care education resources for healthcare professionals, ensuring clinicians are equipped to support patients throughout the continuum of care.

Source: Adapted from Pancare Foundation media release