What to ask after a pancreatic cancer diagnosis

Short answer: After a pancreatic cancer diagnosis, the questions that shape treatment are about the exact type and location, whether the tumor is resectable, borderline resectable, locally advanced, or metastatic, whether germline and tumor genetic testing has been done (BRCA1/2, PALB2, MSI, KRAS), the order of chemotherapy and surgery, and whether care is being coordinated at a high-volume pancreatic cancer center. Full checklist below.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the cancers where where you're treated matters most. High-volume centers have better surgical outcomes and access to trials that can meaningfully change the trajectory. The questions below help you sort that out fast.

Questions about the diagnosis itself

• Exactly what type of pancreatic cancer is this? (Adenocarcinoma is most common; neuroendocrine tumors are treated very differently.)
• Where is the tumor — head, body, or tail of the pancreas?
• What stage is it, and is it considered resectable, borderline resectable, locally advanced, or metastatic?
• What imaging has been done — pancreas-protocol CT, MRI, endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), PET?
• Has the tumor been biopsied, and were adequate tissue samples obtained for molecular testing?

Questions about biomarker and molecular testing

• Has my tumor been tested for actionable mutations — BRCA1/2, PALB2, MSI/MMR, KRAS G12C, NTRK, NRG1?
• Should I have germline genetic testing? (National guidelines now recommend it for all pancreatic cancer patients.)
• Would results open the door to PARP inhibitors, immunotherapy, or targeted therapy?

Questions about where you're treated

• Is this hospital a high-volume pancreatic cancer center? How many Whipples or distal pancreatectomies does the surgeon do per year?
• Would you recommend a second opinion at an NCI-designated cancer center or a dedicated pancreatic program?
• Is my case being reviewed by a multidisciplinary tumor board (surgery, medical oncology, radiation, GI, pathology, radiology)?

Questions about treatment options

• What are all the treatment paths being considered — surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, targeted therapy, immunotherapy?
• If resectable or borderline resectable, is neoadjuvant chemotherapy (chemo before surgery) recommended, and why?
• What chemotherapy regimen is planned (FOLFIRINOX, gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel, others), and for how many months?
• Is radiation part of the plan, and if so, standard or stereotactic (SBRT)?
• Are there clinical trials relevant to this exact stage and biomarker profile?

Questions about surgery specifics (if resection is on the table)

• Which operation is planned — Whipple (pancreaticoduodenectomy), distal pancreatectomy, total pancreatectomy?
• What's the expected hospital stay and full recovery timeline?
• What are the specific risks (pancreatic leak, delayed gastric emptying, diabetes, digestive changes)?
• Will I need pancreatic enzyme replacement, insulin, or nutritional support after surgery?

Questions about timeline and logistics

• How soon does treatment need to start?
• What does the realistic week-to-week timeline look like?
• Will I need a port, and when?
• What support exists for the person coming to appointments with me?

Questions about side effects and quality of life

• What are the most common side effects of the recommended regimen, and which ones need an urgent call?
• What supportive care is in place for pain, nausea, appetite, weight loss, and blood sugar?
• Is palliative care being involved from the start? (This is standard for pancreatic cancer and improves outcomes — it is not the same as hospice.)

Questions about support

• Is there a pancreatic cancer patient navigator or oncology social worker?
• What pancreatic-specific organizations do you recommend? (Pancreatic Cancer Action Network / PanCAN, Lustgarten Foundation.)
• Are there support groups for patients and families?

A note on second opinions

For pancreatic cancer, a second opinion at a high-volume center is one of the highest-leverage decisions a family can make. It rarely delays treatment and often changes the plan — including whether surgery is possible at all. PanCAN's Patient Services line can help identify centers.

If your first appointment left you with a report full of words you don't understand, how to read a pathology report you don't understand is a plain-language walkthrough. For the first 72 hours after diagnosis, what to do first after a cancer diagnosis walks through the order that matters.

Related reading

• Symptoms of pancreatic cancer — early signs and when to push for imaging.
• Just diagnosed with cancer: what to do first — the first 72 hours, in order.
• Questions to ask after any new diagnosis — the full framework.

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This post is for general informational purposes and isn't a substitute for guidance from your care team.