Our impact and successes

Saving lives through early diagnosis

At Pancreatic Cancer Action, our mission is clear: to save lives by diagnosing pancreatic cancer earlier. Our work focuses on awareness, education, research, and patient support all aimed at improving outcomes for those affected.

This page highlights the real-world changes we’ve driven across healthcare systems, communities, and individual lives.

Key achievements

Improving diagnosis and survival rates

• UK 5-year pancreatic cancer survival rate has risen from 3% to over 7% since our work began.
• We’ve helped change national guidelines to allow faster access to scans and specialist care.
• We were instrumental in securing direct-referral powers for pharmacists and GPs.

Transforming healthcare education

• Developed the world’s first CPD-accredited e-learning on pancreatic cancer for GPs and pharmacists.
• Tens of thousands of healthcare professionals trained through free, accessible, accredited courses.
• Endorsed by the Royal College of General Practitioners, Royal Pharmaceutical Society, and NHS Learning Hub.

Investing in early diagnosis research

• Over £300,000 invested in innovative research projects aimed at detecting pancreatic cancer earlier.
• Our Early Diagnosis Challenge Award has unlocked further funding and accelerated innovation.
• We’ve funded clinical roles to support patient care and research participation in NHS settings.

Supporting patients and families

• Distributed over 30,000 trusted information resources, including PIF Tick-accredited guides and cookbooks.
• Funded the UK’s first pancreatic cancer dietitian role, which is now replicated across the NHS.
• Provide direct support through patient stories, lived experience content, and accessible guides.

Driving awareness and public action

Created bold and unforgettable campaigns including:

• #MISSEDmoments: highlighting delayed diagnoses
• PancreasNotPenis: breaking taboos in symptom awareness
• I Wish I Had…: exploring disparities in public awareness
• Delivered local and national campaigns across Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and England.
• Played a founding role in the World Pancreatic Cancer Coalition and Pancreatic Cancer Europe.

What’s next 

We’re proud to have driven meaningful change, not just in policy and practice, but in real people’s lives. Whether through an earlier diagnosis, better support, or life-saving information, our impact is growing.

But there’s more to do. Pancreatic cancer remains one of the toughest cancers to detect early. That’s why we need your support to keep going. Together, we can:

• Expand our training for healthcare professionals
• Reach more people with bold, life-saving awareness campaigns
• Fund more early-diagnosis research
• Seed-fund specialist roles and better support for patients