New platform offers vital peer-to-peer support, shared experiences, and practical knowledge for those affected by pancreatic cancer

Los Angeles, Calif. — (September 23, 2025) — The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) today announced a new partnership with Smart Patients, a premier online health platform, to launch a dedicated online community for individuals affected by pancreatic cancer. This collaboration provides patients and caregivers with a trusted, compassionate space to connect, share experiences, and access real-world insights that can support their care journey. PanCAN’s Patient Services offers tailored guidance and resources, and this new collaboration adds an important peer-to-peer connection for patients and caregivers.

The PanCAN Smart Patients Community provides a moderated environment where members can ask questions, discuss treatments, compare experiences, and learn from others who truly understand what they’re going through. Pancreatic cancer can bring complex challenges, and this resource helps reduce isolation and empowers patients and families with the wisdom of lived experience.

As part of this collaboration, the online peer support community includes two condition-specific discussion groups: one for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), the most common type of pancreatic cancer, and another for pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNET), a rarer form of the disease. These focused spaces allow for even more relevant connection and shared understanding among patients and caregivers.

“Patients with pancreatic cancer and their caregivers need more than just clinical information – they need connection, understanding, and real support from people who’ve been there,” said Anna Berkenblit, M.D., MMSc, Chief Scientific and Medical Officer at PanCAN. “Through our Patients Services, PanCAN provides free, personalized support to help patients navigate everything from treatment options and clinical trials to nutrition and symptom management. This partnership with Smart Patients extends that support by offering a place where patients and caregivers can also connect with peers who understand their experience. Together, we’re ensuring no one has to face this disease alone.”

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most difficult cancers to detect and treat. It is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States and is on track to become the second. It remains the only major cancer with a five-year survival rate below 20%. Because symptoms are often vague and mimic other conditions, most patients are diagnosed in the later stages, when tumors are inoperable and treatment options are limited. Detecting the disease earlier, when surgery is possible, is critical to improving outcomes.

Smart Patients currently hosts more than 100 disease-specific communities and has a strong track record of empowering patients and caregivers through shared knowledge. With an emphasis on privacy, empathy, and security, Smart Patients brings a powerful platform for connection and support in the pancreatic cancer community.

“We believe patients and families are experts in their own lived experiences,” said Kathryn Burn, CEO at Smart Patients. “These new communities ensure that those affected by pancreatic cancer can learn from each other in ways that complement medical care and make a real difference in daily life.”

The PDAC and PNET groups within the PanCAN Smart Patients Community are now available and free to join for anyone impacted by pancreatic cancer, whether newly diagnosed, undergoing treatment, in remission, or caring for a loved one. To join, visit: The PanCAN Smart Patients Community.

For more information, contact PanCAN Patient Services to speak with one of our highly trained and compassionate Case Managers. Learn more at pancan.org or follow PanCAN on X, Instagram, and Facebook. 

About the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network
The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) is the leading organization dedicated to advancing progress against pancreatic cancer. We unite the pancreatic cancer community and push every boundary to create a world where survival is the norm — not the exception. PanCAN empowers patients and caregivers with the resources and knowledge they need to advocate for the care they deserve. We are pioneering the advancement of an early detection strategy for pancreatic cancer and revolutionizing the development of advanced and personalized treatments; and we are building and mobilizing the pancreatic cancer field to ensure better outcomes for all those who face pancreatic cancer today and all those who will fight this disease tomorrow.

About Smart Patients:
Smart Patients is an online community where patients and caregivers affected by serious illnesses learn from each other. Members share personal experiences, ask and answer questions, and gain knowledge in an ad-free, private space that helps them make better-informed decisions about their care. The platform hosts more than 100 disease-specific communities and is free to join. Learn more at www.smartpatients.com.