Association Between Chronic Psychological Stress and Disease Course Outcomes in Pancreatic Cancer

This is a prospective, observational cohort study (MIND-PANC) to explore the associations of chronic psychological stress with disease progression, treatment outcomes, and prognosis of pancreatic cancer. Researchers will ask participants to fill out simple questionnaires about their mood, worries, and sleep at the start of the study and at regular follow-up visits. The study will also collect a small blood sample (leftover from routine care) to measure stress-related markers. Investigators hypothesize that pancreatic cancer patients who have higher levels of ongoing psychological stress (such as anxiety, depression, or poor sleep) tend to have shorter survival times, a higher chance of recurrence, and a poorer response to treatment, compared to patients with lower stress levels.

Inclusion Criteria: * Age ≥ 18 years. * Histologically or cytologically confirmed diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, or other pancreatic diseases. * Conscious, with basic reading/writing or communication skills, able to understand and complete the questionnaire assessments (either independently, with assistance from research staff, or with help from a family member). * Voluntarily agree to participate in this study and sign a written informed consent form. Exclusion Criteria: * Presence of severe cognitive impairment (e.g., dementia, disturbance of consciousness) or a definite history of psychiatric disorders, judged by the investigator as unable to comply with the study assessments, and without a family member who can help complete the questionnaire assessments. * Presence of other severe, uncontrolled systemic diseases (e.g., severe heart, lung, or kidney failure), with an estimated life expectancy \< 3 months as judged by the investigator. * Inability to understand Chinese or presence of severe visual/hearing impairment that affects completion of the questionnaire assessments, and without a family member who can help complete the questionnaire assessments.