Pancreatic Cancer UK

"Up until fairly recently the numbers of patients undergoing surgery for pancreatic cancer in the United Kingdom was relatively low compared to other countries and as well as this there were few specialists with an interest in pancreatic cancer across the country. Until recently there were really just a handful of us who were interested. In 1998 and 1999 a Department of Health workshop was set up to look at upper GI cancers, that is cancers of the oesophagus, stomach and pancreas to determine how treatment might be best altered to improve the outcome of these patients. This resulted in the publication of a government document "Improving Outcomes in Upper GI Cancer" and this is available on the Department of Health website. It may be useful for you to read this or certainly the summary at the front. The lack of resources and lack of funding was flagged up as a major issue and as you will see from this document plans were made to increase the resources. A certain amount of money was promised and slowly this money is filtering through to pancreatic units although it has been a battle to ensure that we receive our fair share. The main issues that are being addressed by this increase are:

1. Increased numbers of clinicians (surgeons and physicians) with an interest in pancreatic cancer
2. Increased numbers of medical oncologists for giving chemotherapy
3. Specialist nurses
4. Bed space in specialist units so that more patients can undergo surgical and other procedures for pancreatic cancer

Unfortunately the amount of money available so far has been fairly small and this means that in some areas the increase in resources has been very slow to get going."

link direct to NHS Executive report on "Improving Outcomes in Upper Gastrointestinal Cancers" on Department of Health web-site

last updated 19th August 2006