Updated ASTRO Pancreatic Guidelines: Key Takeaways for Oncology Nurses

Epidemiologic models project that pancreatic cancer will become the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality in the United States by 2030. In 2026, an estimated 67,500 US adults will receive a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, with 52,700 deaths and a 5-year survival rate of 13% across all stages. Because fewer than 20% of patients present with surgically resectable disease at initial diagnosis, multidisciplinary management integrating systemic chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgical intervention is essential to optimize patient outcomes.