The long-term survival of pancreatic cancer can not improve in 40 years -
survive in the long term pancreatic cancer has not improved in 40 years - with the outlook remaining the lowest of the 21 most common cancers, according to new figures released by cancer Research UK today.
today, just over three percent of pancreatic cancer patients survive for five years, only a fraction of more than two percent who survived this long in the early 1970s.
in all cancers, half of patients now survive at least twice as long. But most cases of pancreatic cancer go undetected until it is too late for surgery. And with the lack of testing and effective treatments for the disease, most patients still die within a year.
But Cancer Research UK plans to more than double its annual research spend on -00000 pancreatic cancer within five years, making inroads into a research area that until now has been neglected in the world. The disease is now in the spotlight throughout the five institutes of the agency nationwide.
Professor Andrew Biankin is among the three-quarters of scientists Beatson Institute for Cancer Research UK at Glasgow University who contribute to research on pancreatic cancer.
He said, "pancreatic cancer has few symptoms at first and I see far too many patients, out of the blue, have said they may have months or weeks to live We waited too. long for new drugs to treat the disease and there are very few options available for people with advanced forms of the disease. it is a situation that simply has to change and we can not to fund research and higher quality trials for treatment of laboratory and patients as soon as possible. "
Working with Professor Sean Grimmond, Professor Biankin leads a team of researchers studying the unique pattern of defects in tumor samples from 400 patients with pancreatic cancer and comparing this to their treatment and outcomes to create a map that will guide the treatment of future patients.
They also try to identify molecules that could be used as early warning signs of the disease, to help diagnose patients before their cancer is too advanced
Yasmin, 41 years, London, lost his father Shaukat to pancreatic cancer in 08. She said. "I lost my father just 18 months after he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer I do not want. no other family to go through what we did.
"the more research we do, the more chances we have to find remedies. Progress is being made, but it is hard to face the fact that it could not help Dad. when pancreatic cancer is diagnosed, it is often too late for treatment to work.
"I miss my father every day. Life changes around you, things happen, but I'm still aware there is someone missing."
Cancer the pancreas is the tenth most common cancer in the UK. Each year about 8,800 people are diagnosed with the disease and about 8,300 die
Harpal Kumar, chief executive of Cancer Research UK, said :. "It is shocking that so many patients are still losing their lives to pancreatic cancer, which is why we have made it a priority to unleash a new wave of research that will see the disease detected earlier and the necessary treatments so get to patients sooner.
"overall, more than half of all cancer patients now survive at least a decade, reflecting the power looking to transform people's lives. But unfortunately, we are far from this level with pancreatic cancer, and we will not stop until we can bring these results to all patients, regardless their type of cancer. "
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