The Roadmap identifies 33 key priority areas and 60 strategies for collective action over the next five years to 2027, across the continuum of pancreatic cancer care, and sets a shared agenda to drive improvements in pancreatic care, experience and outcomes.
It is for the Australian community, including people affected by pancreatic cancer, health professionals, clinical colleges, researchers, pancreatic cancer organisations, funders, peak bodies, non-government and government organisations.
The Roadmap provides the opportunity to focus efforts on the issues that will make a significant difference to all Australians impacted by pancreatic cancer and the national collective response to the Roadmap will allow Australia to lead the world in improving outcomes and survival in pancreatic cancer.
Cancer Australia has delivered Roadmap priorities through the development of resources that support early detection, signs and symptoms, pain management, palliative care, and considerations for Indigenous models of care. The suite of resources complements initiatives across the sector to drive improvements in clinical practice.
Roadmap partnerships
Cancer Australia engaged The University of Queensland and The University of Melbourne to develop clinical guidance focused on:
Early detection and early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer
The University of Queensland.
This work included:
- Improving the identification of people at genetically high risk of pancreatic cancer for targeted surveillance; and
- Improving early recognition of signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer and understanding of appropriate initial investigations if pancreatic cancer is suspected.
Timely referral to pain management and early referral to palliative care for people with pancreatic cancer
The University of Melbourne.
This work included:
- A standardised pathway for timely referral (rapid access model) to specialist pain management which includes a pain needs assessment tool, clinical guidance and patient information; and
- A standardised pathway for early referral to palliative care which includes clinical guidance.
The clinical guidance is available on the Pancare website:
- Identifying and investigating patients who may have undiagnosed pancreatic cancer: A guide for Australian primary care practitioners
- Surveillance in people at high risk of pancreatic cancer: A guide for Australian primary care practitioners
- Pain Management for people with Pancreatic Cancer. Pathway, Access and Clinical Guidance
- Early Palliative Care for people with Pancreatic Cancer. Pathway, Access and Clinical Guidance
Cancer Australia commissioned the Pancare Foundation to develop two accredited education modules to support understanding of this clinical guidance. The education modules are available on the Arterial Education website.
Background
Supporting information, context and resources.
National Pancreatic Cancer Roadmap
The Roadmap covers 11 domains - the seven steps in the pancreatic cancer OCP plus four additional domains that cross the whole continuum of cancer care - supportive care, research and clinical trials, data and reporting, and models of care.
