72% of patients with pancreatic cancer die within a year of finding out they have it.
We wear purple to show our support to those who have lost their lives and those that are still fighting pancreatic cancer. The world is showing its support by lighting up landmarks with purple lights.
A recent study shows that a specialized form of immunotherapy can boost the survival rates of pancreatic cancer in mice more than 75%. Human trials will start within the next year.
Researcher Phil Greenberg says, “As best we can tell, this would be a better therapy than anything that exists for pancreatic cancer right now…”.
Pancreatic Cancer:
- 49,000 new cases this year
- 40,000 patients will die
- 7% diagnosed survive more than 5 years
- Often discovered too late
- Pain, yellowing, weight loss
- Spreads quickly
- Recurrence is likely
The silver lining is that some patients to beat the odds.
Bob Lougheed was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer over 7 years ago and joined us on the show again to update us on his condition.
Lougheed was diagnosed in 2007 when he went to his doctor with some hip pain. His doctor told him the next usual step would be to wait 6 months and contact his family doctor, but decided to do a biopsy that day instead. He says that biopsy saved his life.
Lougheed takes life easy now. He lives by the beach, pancreatic cancer free, and positively impacts peoples lives with his singing.
His message to us is that we need more pancreatic cancer funding. 93 out of every 100 people diagnosed will die. We currently only get 2% of funding from the National Cancer Institute, so raise awareness!
