A Macmillan-analysis of the survival rates of cancers in the UK from the early 1970s to 2007 have shown that whilst most cancers have seen great improvements in median survival the survival rate for pancreatic cancer remains low.
The survival rates for pancreatic cancer have not improved for forty years and the five-year survival rate for the disease remains at only 3% and the chance of surviving for a year is less than 20%, one of the worst rates in Europe. It is the biggest cancer killer in the UK and takes the life of 22 people every day but despite this it receives only 1% of cancer research funding.
The Pancreatic Cancer Action charity is hoping to raise money into the research of the disease and to raise awareness into the symptoms of the disease in order to improve rates of early diagnosis. Currently only 10% of patients are diagnosed in time for life-saving surgery which is the only potential for a cure and the charity is hoping to decrease the numbers of people being diagnosed during later-stage disease.
