It is estimated more than 4,600 new pancreatic cancer cases will be diagnosed in Australia in 2024, making it the eighth most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia. Unfortunately, early-stage pancreatic cancer rarely causes signs and symptoms, making it difficult to diagnose. When symptoms do occur they are often similar to symptoms from many less serious benign conditions. In some cases, people with pancreatic cancer may have no symptoms until the cancer has spread to other organs.

The good news is that Cabrini, a leader in Australian cancer care, provides comprehensive tailored treatment to people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, giving them a good chance at fighting this disease. Cabrini’s success in treating pancreatic cancer, stems from its strong multi-disciplinary approach and advanced surgical techniques.

Dr Kaye Bowers, a liver, biliary and pancreatic surgeon at Cabrini, testifies to the importance of a multidisciplinary approach. “The collaboration between surgeons, oncologists, and other specialists is vital. Our team meetings ensure each patient receives carefully coordinated care, with all specialists contributing their expertise to treatment planning,” Dr Bowers said.

For some patients, surgery is the best option. Dr Bowers emphasises that patient selection is crucial. “We consider multiple factors including patient fitness, disease extent, and the relationship of tumours to major blood vessels when determining surgical candidacy.”

Access to sophisticated surgical procedures is important for successful outcomes. Dr Bowers and her team employ various advanced techniques depending on the tumour’s location. These include complex pancreatic surgeries such as the Whipple procedure for head of pancreas tumours – one of the most challenging abdominal operations – and targeted procedures for body and tail tumours, which may be suitable for minimally invasive approaches.

Dr Bowers explains that while pancreatic cancer can be aggressive, positive outcomes are possible with appropriate treatment. “When we see patients, particularly those with an initial poor prognosis – reaching significant milestones, like being disease-free for four and a half years – it’s very encouraging,” she said.

As a leader in cancer care and research, patients have access to Cabrini’s oncology clinical trials program which provides eligible cancer patients with access to pioneering treatments including immunotherapy, targeted therapies and new drugs before they are subsidised by the government.

Rochelle Woods, Team Manager of Oncology Research at Cabrini, reports on recent and current trials for pancreatic cancer patients at Cabrini. “The research team has recently been involved in three trials that actively included pancreatic participants: the DYNAMIC-Pancreas Study (DNA analysis in early-stage pancreatic cancer), a Phase 2 Study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of drugs in multiple solid tumours and a Phase 1B Study in solid tumours including pancreatic tumours,” she said.

“We are currently running other trials in solid tumours that pancreatic patients may also participate in. Pleasingly, we have one patient who has been on trial and continues to benefit from it, so is moving onto the special access scheme to continue receiving that treatment, and another six who are in the follow-up stage of another trial,” Rochelle said.

For more information on Pancreatic Cancer, read our awareness article.

For more information on all the ways Cabrini assists people with pancreatic cancer, please visit Cabrini’s Upper Gastrointestinal and HPB Cancer services.