What to ask after a pancreatic cancer diagnosis

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.