NEWS RELEASE
CANADIAN CANCER SOCIETY, SIMCOE-MUSKOKA
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Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in Canada for both men and women.
In 2017, an estimated 5,500 Canadians were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and about 4,400 died from the disease. In 2020, it is estimated that 484,000 people worldwide will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
The pancreas is a part of the digestive system and it is a flat pear-shaped gland that is behind the stomach. Pancreatic cancer may not cause any signs or symptoms in the early stages. But as the tumour grows and causes changes in the body, signs and symptoms will develop.
Signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer include: yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes (jaundice); pain in the upper abdomen or upper back; fatty stools that are light coloured, bulky and float in the toilet; unexplained weight loss; loss of appetite; fatigue; nausea and vomiting; indigestion; feeling full after a small meal; bloating; gas; diarrhea or constipation; itching; dark urine; fever and shivering; and swelling of the legs.
Survival rates for pancreatic cancer are extremely low; only about 50 per cent survive past four months and only about 8% of people with pancreatic cancer survive five years past their diagnosis.
The Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) wants to change these statistics. Researchers and healthcare professionals are looking for not only better practices for prevention, detection and treatment, but also improving the quality of life for people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
"The distressing part of pancreatic cancer is that only a small proportion of patients are candidates for surgery and even if surgery is successful, most will die of recurrent disease," says Dr. Jim Biagi, an associate professor at Queens' University, researcher and oncologist at the Cancer Centre of Southeastern Ontario.
Dr. Biagi was the Canadian co-chair of an international clinical trial that tested the effectiveness of a new chemotherapy regimen in delaying relapse in patients who had surgery to remove their pancreatic tumour.
The trial was supported by the Canadian Cancer Society through the Canadian Cancer Trials Group (CCTG).
In the trial, Dr. Biagi and his colleagues found that the new drug combination called mFOLFIRINOX is significantly better at delaying the recurrence of cancer than gemcitabine, the standard of care for the past ten years.
"These trial results demonstrate that patients who receive this treatment after surgery are almost twice as likely to survive," says Dr. Biagi. "This is life-changing for these patients and should impact how we treat pancreatic cancer around the world."
Each year, the Canadian Cancer Society invests nearly $5 million in CCTG to enable it to conduct life-saving clinical trials like this one across the country. You can help support clinical trials by making a donation to help fund these clinical trials.
Join people worldwide as they strive for more attention, awareness and progress to help patients fight and survive pancreatic cancer. Follow them on Facebook @worldpancreaticcancerday and Instagram and Twitter: @worldpancreatic.
For more information on pancreatic and other cancers, and cancer research or to find support programs in your area, visit here or call 1-888-939-3333.
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