Patients with pancreatic cancer undergoing curative-intent surgery face incredible burdens, even long-term after surgery, but the amount of time spent in health care (i.e., as health care contact days) was not hitherto quantified. In this cohort study of 649 patients with pancreatic cancer undergoing curative-intent surgery in the largest integrated health system in the United States, patients spent approximately 50% of days as contact days (and 50% as ''home days''-without health care contact) in the first month after surgery. The percentage of home days only increased to approximately 60% even 1 year after surgery when including the approximate mortality 20% rate, and patients spent at least 20% of their days with health care contact even months/years after surgery. These data are important for counseling patients and caregivers (both to set expectations and to augment informed decision-making) and for health systems and policy makers to ensure appropriate supports.
Johnson et al. (2026) studied this question.