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Prognosis for pancreatic cancer

Some people want to know whether their cancer can be cured, or how long they have left to live. This is called their prognosis, outlook or life expectancy.

The prognosis will be different for each person. It depends on several things, including whether the cancer has spread, how far it has spread, your general health and the treatments you can have. 

You may not want to know your prognosis. It’s up to you whether you find out about it. But if you want to know, speak to your doctor or nurse. They won’t be able to give you an exact timeframe, as everybody is different. But they should be able to give you an idea of what to expect. 

There is a lot of information about pancreatic cancer online, and not all of it is accurate or relevant to you. So it’s important to speak to your doctor about your own situation. 

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I think the most difficult aspect of dealing with pancreatic cancer is the uncertainty that inevitably comes with it. But all of this has brought my family closer together.

Speak to our specialist nurses

You can speak to our specialist nurses on our Support Line with any questions about pancreatic cancer, prognosis, and for emotional support.

Speak to our nurses
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Published March 2026 

To be reviewed March 2029