WINK NEWS
Here’s an alarming number: only 10% of people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer live five years or more. Now one group is hoping to increase that number.
The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network is studying the link between pancreatic cancer and diabetes and could give people more time to get diagnosed.
When the doctors found Fred Csaky’s tumor, “It was the size of a baseball, with lots of other organs involved.”
That meant the doctors didn’t even know if surgery was an option until Cskay was on the table.
His story of pancreatic cancer is widespread – with one exception: he survived.
“Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest types of cancer. It is the third leading cause of cancer death in the United States, ”said Julie Fleshman, President and CEO of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.
Part of the problem? No screening test, and the scans to find it are expensive.
“You think of Pap smears for cervical cancer, PPE Tests for prostate cancer and mammograms for breast cancer and even home test kits for colon cancer. There’s nothing quite like it in pancreatic cancer, ”said Cskay.
“It wouldn’t make sense for someone to just go in and ask for a scan because the number of people who would actually get pancreatic cancer would be too few and cost too much money,” Fleshman said.
But now a new study is hoping to make these scans more practical.
The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network’s new Early Detection Initiative treats adult diabetes as a symptom of pancreatic cancer. Participants will have imaging tests if they are diagnosed with diabetes to see if it leads to earlier detection of the cancer.
“I’ve lost a close friend and colleague,” said Csaky.
“He was diagnosed and passed away seven to six weeks later. So it happened very quickly. “
This is why the study is so important, said Fleshman, with the aim of “Ultimately, to change the guidelines for practice – if someone is diagnosed with emerging diabetes after age 50, it becomes a regular part of the routine you would look for. “
The study also hopes to use blood samples to identify future pancreatic cancer biomarkers. Until guidelines change and screening tests become available, you can review your risk online. Just click Here to do that.
