Pain Management and Nutritional Support in Nonresectable Pancreatic Cancer

Abstract

Despite the fact that 80-85% of the patients with pancreatic cancer present with nonresectable disease and are therefore a large patient cohort (approximately 5,500 patients with pancreatic cancer per annum in the UK alone), the available literature is sparse and there have been few good-quality studies in this patient group. The specific topics of pain relief and nutritional support in these patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer have received very little interest in the literature over many years. We present our review of the relevant literature and discussions regarding future investigations of these two important topics, as discussed at the meeting at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons in Glasgow, entitled “Pancreatic Diseases, the Challenges,” in March 2007.