The NHS is launching a major initiative to detect pancreatic cancer earlier by targeting thousands of patients showing potential symptoms. Hundreds of GP practices across England are receiving additional funding to review patient records, specifically focusing on individuals over 60 who have recently developed diabetes or experienced unexplained weight loss—both possible early signals of this aggressive cancer.
Pancreatic cancer, notorious for its low survival rates, often goes undiagnosed until its advanced stages due to vague symptoms. Research indicates that about half of pancreatic cancer patients have been recently diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, as the cancer damages insulin-producing cells—mimicking diabetes symptoms.
In this new three-year pilot involving over 300 GP practices, identified patients will be urgently referred for blood tests and CT scans to confirm or exclude cancer presence. With around 10,500 annual pancreatic cancer diagnoses in the UK and only about 5% surviving beyond ten years, early detection is critical.
Nearly £2 million in targeted funding supports this programme, enabling healthcare providers to identify high-risk individuals and offer timely, potentially life-saving interventions. Professor Peter Johnson, NHS national clinical director for cancer, emphasized the importance of early diagnosis: “Pancreatic cancer causes many deaths because symptoms often appear too late. This initiative aims to detect the disease sooner by actively seeking out at-risk patients, even those without obvious symptoms.”
Health minister Karin Smyth highlighted the impact of this focused approach: “By pinpointing those at greatest risk, we can give more people a fighting chance and reduce the heartbreak caused by this lethal cancer.”
Alfie Bailey-Bearfield of Pancreatic Cancer UK praised the initiative: “Early diagnosis makes the biggest difference to survival. We’re proud to help shape this pilot, which targets those over 60 with recent diabetes and unexplained weight loss. While not everyone screened will have cancer, for those who do, this could be lifesaving.”
The NHS hopes the success of this pilot will lead to wider nationwide adoption, improving outcomes for one of the deadliest common cancers.