Attending an in-person group can help prevent isolation by providing a safe, confidential environment with others in a similar position. It is a place where people can share their experiences of pancreatic cancer, including useful tips and ideas on personal coping mechanisms and symptom management.
Groups can be open to people with a pancreatic cancer diagnosis, family members or carers of someone affected, or people dealing with the loss of a family member from the disease. Some groups may also choose to focus some of their time on fundraising, awareness raising, and lobbying for change around pancreatic cancer.
The pancreatic cancer support groups listed here are not owned by Pancreatic Cancer UK and are autonomous in their setup and delivery.
If you would like to let us know about a support group currently running, then please email community@pancreaticcancer.org.uk
Location: Edinburgh
The oncology CNS team within the Edinburgh Cancer Centre has set up a support group for our pancreatic cancer patients. They run a monthly group every second Monday of the month between 3-4 pm within Maggie’s Centre in the grounds of the Western General Hospital.
Location: Hull
The Post-Pancreatic Surgery Support Group is a chance to speak with others who have had pancreatic surgery and share your experiences. Information booklets and leaflets are available. Clinical Nurse Specialists Kirsty and Sue attend meetings, along with guest speakers. Tea and coffee will be provided and you are welcome to bring a family member or friend along with you.
Meetings are held at: Kirkella Room 1st Floor (lift available), Haltemprice Leisure Centre, Springfield Way, Anlaby, HU10 6QJ. If you would like to attend the group, please R.S.V.P. to Kirsty or Sue at
hyp-tr.uppergi.cnsteam@nhs.net.
Location: Yorkshire
Panpals Yorkshire meets at different locations around Leeds and Wakefield every 6 weeks. The group is a mix of operable and palliative patients.
Please do contact panpalsyorks@yahoo.co.uk if you are interesting in attending.
Location: Liverpool
This group is patient led but supported by professionals with expertise and knowledge in pancreatic cancer. For more information contact Pancreatic Nurse Consultant, Phil Whelan, at philip.whelan@rlbuht.nhs.uk.
Location: Crewe
This group is patient-led but supported by pancreatic cancer nurse specialists. For more information, you can contact the team at Upperginurses@mcht.nhs.uk.
Location: Manchester
This monthly support group is open to anyone in Greater Manchester who has had a HPB cancer diagnosis and is held at the Maggie’s Centre in Manchester, on the 4th Tuesday of every month at 11am. If you’d like to attend, please email manchester@maggies.org for further information.
Location: Staffordshire
The Purple Rainbow Pancreatic Cancer group provides support for people affected by pancreatic cancer across Staffordshire and meets every six weeks. For more information, contact supportpancan@aol.com.
Visit their website here.
The group predominately support one another on a private Facebook group. The group is free to post without concern that the ‘wider world’ can see it, and there is always someone who will write back to posts, day or night. Some members might also decide to communicate outside of the Facebook group and offer support over the telephone or by meeting up.
You can join the group by following the link to their Facebook page or searching for the Pancreatic Cancer Patient Group UK ‘living with and beyond’ on Facebook. Once on the page, if you click ‘join group’ then Karen will get in touch with you and ask for a little bit more information about you before you join.
If you are not a Facebook user but would like to get in touch with the group, you can contact them at pc.livingwithandbeyond@gmail.com.
If you have pancreatic cancer or are currently supporting someone with a diagnosis, Circles is for you.
Connect with others via WhatsApp and Facebook groups run by Pancreatic Cancer UK; share the highs, the lows, and everything in between with people who understand, who ‘just get it’.
