Pancreatic Cancer Awareness
Is Sugar Really That Bad for You?
2 Breathing Techniques to Start Your Day
Amy Robach and Andrew Shue Share Blended Family Challenges
The Cancer Diagnosis That Saved Amy Robach's Marriage
Amy Robach and Andrew Shue Share How They Learned to Parent Toge…
Tools to Help You Accomplish Anything!
How Breathing Can Help Your Mental and Physical Health!
New Mom Was Told She Couldn’t Have Kids Due to PCOS
New Hope in the Fight Against HIV
Woman Shares Her Story of Growing Up with Facial Hair!
Why Cheese Is a Great Snack for Your Oral Health!
Nutritionist Shares Her Favorite Healthy Cheeses!
The Stigma of HIV Still at Play in Blood Donation?
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of PCOS?
Concerned You Might Have Type 2 Diabetes?
Could an HIV Vaccine Be Available Soon?
How to Take Control of Your Diabetes Risk!
Would You Hire Someone to Test Your Partner’s Loyalty?
Do You Know How to Muscle Floss?
A campaign in the U.K. to raise awareness about pancreatic cancer features patients saying that they wished they had other forms of cancer that have better survival rates. The campaign has enraged people with other types of cancer, who say that all forms of cancer are devastating, and that the campaign's sponsors should not pit one type of the disease against another.
Ali Stunt, founder of Pancreatic Cancer Action, is a survivor of the deadly disease. "I was diagnosed at the age of 41 with operable, thankfully, pancreatic cancer," she says. "Anyone who hears the word 'cancer,' it's terrifying, but when you hear it's pancreatic cancer, it's horrific." Stunt adds, "We haven't intended to upset anybody, but we appreciate that if you've only read the strapline and not actually read the message underneath then you could potentially be offended. I would offer my own personal apologies to those people who have been upset."
Pancreatic cancer often is diagnosed at an advanced stage, so the survival rate is extremely low, usually less than five years. It is the forth-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S. The most common type of pancreatic cancer begins in the ducts of the pancreas, an organ behind the stomach that creates fluid that helps digest foods, according to The American Cancer Society.
Pancreatic cancer spreads rapidly and often is referred to as a "silent disease" because those affected rarely show noticeable signs or symptoms. By the time the cancer is detected, it is very difficult to treat.
Common Symptoms
- Jaundice
- Pain in the upper or middle abdomen or back
- Unexplained weight loss
- Loss of appetite
- Fatigue
- Depression
Treatment Options
- Surgery
- Radiation
- Chemotherapy
- Targeted drug therapy
Related:
