Adjusting to pancreatic cancer: perspectives from first-degree relatives.

Objective: The combination of a difficult early diagnosis, few treatment options, and high mortality rate could make the experience of pancreatic cancer different from the experience of other cancers, both for patients and families. To design effective interventions for families with a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, there is need for a model of family members' adjustment to cancer that is specific to these unique aspects of pancreatic cancer.

Method: Trained clinical interviewers and a genetic counselor conducted phone interviews with 22 first-degree relatives-parents, siblings, and offspring-from a pool of participating family members.