New online learning for Pharmacists on Pancreatic Cancer Now Live on the Royal Pharmaceutical Society Website

Why Pancreatic Cancer Awareness in Community Pharmacy Matters

Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest forms of cancer, with early diagnosis being the key to improving survival rates. Yet, too often, the symptoms go unnoticed until it is too late. This is where community pharmacists play a crucial role. As universally accessible healthcare professionals with regular, trusted contact with their customers, they are uniquely positioned to spot early signs of pancreatic cancer and make a lifesaving difference.

Community pharmacists have daily interactions with their customers, often building relationships that allow them to recognise subtle changes in health. This familiarity puts them in a prime position to identify the warning signs of pancreatic cancer. For instance, they may observe progressive weight loss, jaundice, or notice that a customer’s persistent symptoms, such as back pain or indigestion, are resistant to over-the-counter treatments. These can all be early indicators of pancreatic cancer, and a well-informed pharmacist can guide patients to seek urgent medical attention.

Common early symptoms to watch for include:

• Persistent back pain
• Unexplained weight loss
• Jaundice
• Indigestion that doesn’t respond to treatment

By recognising these red flags, pharmacists can help improve survival rates through earlier diagnosis.

What the Training Covers

At Pancreatic Cancer Action, we have worked closely with EL Healthcare Education to launch a new and improved online learning module tailored for community pharmacists and their teams. This comprehensive training equips them with the knowledge to:

• 🧠 Understand the pancreas’s role and function in the body
• ⚠️ Identify the risk factors associated with pancreatic cancer and explore its impact on sufferers.
• 👁️ Recognise the symptoms that may indicate pancreatic cancer and require urgent referral to a GP.
• 🗣️ Build effective communication skills when speaking to customers suffering from pancreatic cancer or showing symptoms.

Professional Recognition and Access

By completing this module, pharmacists will not only gain critical insights into the detection of pancreatic cancer but will also have the confidence to take action that could directly lead to earlier diagnoses, ultimately saving lives.

We are excited to announce that our updated online learning module for pharmacists is now being hosted by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. They are the professional leadership body for pharmacists and pharmaceutical sciences and their mission is to put pharmacy at the forefront of patient care.

By hosting our online learning module, they are helping us to reach and educate more pharmacists and pharmacy teams than ever before. Upon completing the module, pharmacists and their teams will receive CPD points and a certificate as a record of their achievement.

Hear from Our Pharmacist Ambassador

“Community Pharmacy is now well acknowledged as a cornerstone of equitable NHS Care. As the most accessible delivery point of healthcare, with innumerable daily contacts, care interactions and conversations, this is why evidence indicates that improving earlier pancreatic cancer diagnoses requires the Community Pharmacy team. Earlier diagnoses saves lives and improves treatment outcomes. This training resource, provided by Pancreatic Cancer Action, who have long championed the role and expertise of Community Pharmacy Teams including the wider pharmacy profession now embedded across the NHS footprint, helps provide the knowledge and expertise needed. Please do take some time to complete the online learning module, so that together we will help save lives.”