We know this is a worrying time if someone you care about has pancreatic cancer. You can speak to our specialist nurses on our free Support Line. They can answer any questions about pancreatic cancer and coronavirus, and talk through your concerns. The Support Line is available for family and carers as well as people with pancreatic cancer.
We also have information if your family member is nearing the end of life during coronavirus.
If you live with someone with pancreatic cancer who has been shielding, shielding has now been started again in England. It is paused in the rest of the UK, although there is some specific guidance for people who were shielding. Read more about what this means.
If you live with someone who has pancreatic cancer, you should all follow the government’s guidance on hygiene and social distancing. They should be particularly careful about this, as they may still be at higher risk of getting ill from coronavirus. Read more about coronavirus and social distancing.
If you or someone else in the home get symptoms of coronavirus, try to arrange for the person with pancreatic cancer to stay with friends or family for 14 days. You should also do this if you are contacted by the NHS contact tracing service because you have been in contact with someone who tested positive to coronavirus. If the person with pancreatic cancer can’t stay somewhere else, try to keep 2 metres away from them as much as possible.
You can use the NHS online services to check your symptoms and to get advice about what to do next.
If someone in your household has symptoms of coronavirus you will all need to self-isolate. This means you should stay at home. This includes the person with pancreatic cancer if they can’t stay somewhere else.
There is information about what to do if you or someone you live with have symptoms of coronavirus on the GOV.UK website.
If the person with pancreatic cancer is having chemotherapy and gets symptoms of coronavirus call the emergency number their chemotherapy team will have given them. If you can’t get through, contact their clinical nurse specialist (CNS) or medical team.
You could also try the consultant’s secretary or hospital switchboard if you struggle to get through to the medical team. If you still can’t get through, call 111, or 999 if it’s an emergency.
If the person with pancreatic cancer isn’t having chemotherapy but gets symptoms of coronavirus, you should follow the advice about testing and self-isolation. If they don’t get better after 7 days or get worse, or they feel they can’t cope, call 111.
If you are providing care to the person with pancreatic cancer, it is fine for you to visit them, as long as you don’t have symptoms of coronavirus. You should wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds when you arrive, and often while you are there. In England, only people in a support bubble should provide care – although professional carers are still allowed to visit.
Depending on where you live, you may be able to meet people you don’t live with. Read about current restrictions. You should try to maintain social distancing, keeping 2 metres away from them. This is to protect them from getting coronavirus.
If either you or the person with pancreatic cancer live alone, you could think about forming a support bubble or extended household (depending on where you live). Read more about support bubbles and extended households.
Carers UK have lots of information about coronavirus for carers.
You may find it helpful to plan ahead with the person with pancreatic cancer, to help you both cope with the coronavirus situation. It may be helpful to talk to family and friends about what’s needed.
The person with pancreatic cancer may rely on the support of family, friends and neighbours – for example, to help with getting shopping and medicines. You could try arranging a rota of who does what to share this out. There are services that have been set up across the UK that can also provide support. You can contact the NHS Volunteer Responders for help with shopping and other essential supplies. There may also be local voluntary groups that can provide support – look on the COVID-19 Mutual Aid UK website to see if there’s a group near you.
If you are caring for someone with pancreatic cancer, it’s a good idea to make a plan in case you become unwell. Work out if there’s somebody the person with pancreatic cancer could stay with, or who might be able to care for them. If you need help with care but you’re not sure who to contact, or if you don’t have family or friends who can help, you can contact your local council or NHS Trust, who should be able to help.
Note down the following key information, and share it with others:
It’s a good idea to pack a hospital bag for the person with pancreatic cancer, in case they do catch coronavirus and have to go to hospital. Include their emergency contacts, any medicines, pancreatic enzymes such as Creon, as well as things they might need for staying overnight such as night clothes, and a toothbrush.
Carers UK also have information for people caring for others.
If you have any questions about coronavirus and pancreatic cancer, you can speak to our specialist nurses on our Support Line.
Updated 5 January 2021
