Pancreatic Cancer: What to Expect

For our final episode of this series, Kiruthikah and Camilla speak with Jason, who was living with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. He reflected on his reasons for taking part in a clinical trial and what the experience was like.

We hear from Jason about why he chose to join a clinical trial, what the experience was like, and what he’s gained from it.

Jason’s story offers honest and encouraging insight into what taking part in a cancer trial can involve, and why it might be worth considering.
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In this episode, Camilla and Kiruthikah are joined by Debs, a medical oncologist and clinical academic, to discuss clinical trials for pancreatic cancer treatments.

We’ll cover:
what a clinical trial is and the different types (Phase 1, 2, and 3) involved in developing new treatments
the potential benefits and risks of joining a clinical trial
the exciting advancements in gene sequencing and how they may lead to more personalised treatments in the future.

Debs provides valuable insights into how trials offer hope and opportunities for people with pancreatic cancer to access new and innovative treatments.
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In this episode, Kiruthikah and Camilla are joined again by Emily, who had surgery for pancreatic cancer followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy. She shares her experience of going through radiotherapy and what helped her manage during treatment.

We hear from Emily about:

what it’s like to have radiotherapy
the physical side effects she experienced, such as tiredness and skin changes
how she stayed positive and coped emotionally through the daily treatments.

Emily’s story offers valuable advice and encouragement for anyone preparing for or going through radiotherapy for pancreatic cancer.

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In this episode, Camilla and Kiruthikah are joined by Dr Kasia Owczarczyk, consultant clinical oncologist, to explore the role of radiotherapy in treating pancreatic cancer.

We’ll cover:
when and why radiotherapy is used, including before or after surgery, or for managing pain and other symptoms
what happens during radiotherapy, including the planning process, how treatment is delivered, and what side effects to expect
new developments in radiotherapy, such as stereotactic radiotherapy (SABR), which offers a more focused and shorter treatment course for some patients.

This episode provides a clear and practical guide to what radiotherapy involves, helping people understand what to expect and how it can support them during treatment.
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In this episode, Camilla and Kiruthikah are joined by genetics counsellor Maddie Gale to explore the role of inherited genetic changes in pancreatic cancer and what they can mean for patients and their families.

We’ll cover:
what genes are and how changes in them can sometimes increase the risk of cancer
what happens at a genetics appointment, including how testing works and what the results can tell us
how results might affect family members and what support is available for them.

This episode explains how genetic testing works in a clear and reassuring way, and how it can help people with pancreatic cancer and their families.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.