Stage 4 pancreatic cancer

You may be told the stage of cancer. This describes the size of the cancer, if it has spread outside the pancreas and how far.

Stages of pancreatic cancer

What is stage 4 pancreatic cancer?

Stage 4 cancer means that the cancer has spread to other parts of your body. It may have spread to the lungs, liver or lining of your tummy (peritoneum). This is advanced or metastatic cancer.

Diagram showing stage 4 pancreatic cancer

Possible treatments: You may be able to have chemotherapy to slow down the growth of the cancer. You can also have treatments to manage any symptoms. Your doctor or nurse may call the cancer inoperable or unresectable, which means that surgery isn’t an option.

Read more about advanced pancreatic cancer.

Get support

If you have any questions about your diagnosis or treatment options, speak to your doctor or nurse.

You can also speak to our specialist nurses on our free Support Line.

Specialist nurse Support Line

Order our booklet for people just diagnosed

If you have just been diagnosed with locally advanced or advanced cancer, order our booklet: Pancreatic cancer if you can’t have surgery (inoperable cancer). A guide if you have just been diagnosed

Order the booklet