-- More than 70 organizations from 30 countries participate in annual campaign to shine spotlight on the urgent need for earlier detection
On World Pancreatic Cancer Day, Thursday, Nov. 15, people around the world will rally together to Demand Better(SM) in the fight against pancreatic cancer, starting with awareness of the symptoms and risks. The annual one-day campaign is an initiative of the World Pancreatic Cancer Coalition, which is composed of more than 70 organizations from 30 countries on six continents.
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Every day, more than 1,250 people worldwide will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and an estimated 1,180 will die from the disease. Pancreatic cancer has the lowest survival rate among all major cancers, and in nearly every country, it is the only major cancer with a single-digit five-year survival rate (2-9 percent). These chilling figures are not merely statistics, they represent family members, friends and colleagues across the globe.
"The symptoms and risks of pancreatic cancer can be vague and are poorly understood, which is why it's so important to recognize the warning signs," said Julie Fleshman, JD, MBA, World Pancreatic Cancer Coalition chair. "Initiatives like World Pancreatic Cancer Day allow us to demand better for patients and bring greater attention, awareness and, ultimately, better outcomes, to this deadly disease."
Knowing the symptoms and risks remains key to an early diagnosis. There is currently no standard screening test or early detection method for pancreatic cancer, though research is being conducted in these areas. It is also critical that those who may see signs or symptoms of pancreatic cancer listen to their bodies, seek medical attention and when talking to their healthcare provider, mention pancreatic cancer. Research shows that patients diagnosed in time for surgery are more likely to live five years and beyond.
