A University of Birmingham-led study has found almost half of people diagnosed within inoperable pancreatic cancer are not prescribed inexpensive yet essential tablets without which they cannot digest food – placing them at risk of starvation or being less able to tolerate treatment.
In light of the research findings, charity Pancreatic Cancer UK today (Wednesday 26 May) launches its ‘Transform Lives: Prescribe’ campaign, urging the NHS to ensure everyone who could benefit from the tablets, known as Pancreatic Enzyme Replacement Therapy (PERT), are prescribed them at the point of diagnosis.
As pancreatic cancer grows, it stops the pancreas producing enzymes needed to digest food and absorb nutrients. PERT tablets are therefore essential to help patients eat, stay healthy enough to tolerate treatment and to manage debilitating symptoms from the cancer – including pain, diarrhoea and extreme weight loss.
The new research, due to publish in journal Pancreatology and partly funded by Pancreatic Cancer UK and Midland Gastroenterological Society, was led by a…
