The National Pancreatic Cancer Audit (NPaCA), is helping to accelerate national efforts to improve the care and treatment of patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
We gather real world information from databases across England and Wales, allowing better comparisons to be made, and revealing where shortfalls need to be addressed.
Pancreatic cancer is one the least survivable cancers, with virtually no improvement seen in survival rates in the UK over 40 years from the 1970s.
But the data that tells us that is ten years old. So, are new treatments having a positive impact?
Ganesh Radhakrishna, is one of the clinical leads on the audit, and comments that pancreatic cancer is very difficult to diagnose and treat, but there is a lot to be optimistic about. Listen to more of his thoughts here:
Ganesh Radhakrishna, Clinical Lead (Clinical Oncology), National Pancreatic Cancer Audit
Patient charities and support groups have been calling for a national pancreatic cancer audit for a long time. They play a crucial role in helping us determine which questions need to be addressed most urgently, and what areas of new research might be most beneficial.
Alice Clarkson, Policy and Health Improvement Manager, Pancreatic Cancer UK
Heather Archbold, Health Information and Research Manager, Pancreatic Cancer Action
Individual patients and carers are also really important to the audit process. We greatly value hearing a wide range of opinions and concerns, both from people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and professionals. One of our key objectives, is to produce better results for people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, to try to allow them to live longer, healthier lives.
Richard Murphy, Patient/Carer Representative, Pancreatic Cancer UK
The clinical leads for NPaCA are as follows:
- Dr Nigel Trudgill, Clinical Lead (Gastroenterology), representing the British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG).
- Mr Andrew Smith, Clinical Lead (Surgery), representing the Association of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery (AUGIS).
- Dr Ganesh Radhakrishna, Clinical Lead (Clinical Oncology), representing the Royal College of Radiologists (RCR).
This page will be updated whenever more information becomes available.