Pancreatic cancer is a substantial therapeutic challenge as the disease is often characterised by difficulty in detection and non-specific symptoms resulting in late diagnosis. This is further compounded by early metastatic spread. During the past decade, there has been an increasing demand to focus treatment and care on symptom relief and quality of life. This presents opportunities for the nurse to have a central role in improving patient experience. This article will provide an overview on the characteristics, causes, treatment and care of the patient at key milestones of their pancreatic cancer experience.