Pancreatic Cancer Quick Facts
- Pancreatic cancer is the fifth commonest cause of cancer deaths in the UK.
- There has been no improvement in the overall survival rate in the past 40 years. Only 3% of those diagnosed are still alive five years after diagnosis.
- Pancreatic cancer is under resourced in research and treatment compared to other common cancers.
- It is the tenth most common cancer.
- Six months is the average life expectancy once diagnosed.
- 1% of cancer funding goes towards pancreatic cancer.
Pancreatic Cancer Symptoms
- Painless jaundice (yellow skin/eyes, dark urine) related to bile duct obstruction.
- Significant and unexplained weight loss.
- New onset of abdominal discomfort.
All of these symptoms can have multiple other causes, and there is not yet a reliable diagnostic test for pancreatic cancer.
For more information about the prognosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer read "Pancreatic cancer: can it be cured?" by Consultant Liver Surgeon, Mr Giuseppe Kito Fusai.
Relating to the abdomen, which is the region of the body between the chest and the pelvis.
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A fluid produced by the liver, which helps the fat ingested in food to combine with the digestive juices in the gut.
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Abnormal, uncontrolled cell division resulting in a malignant tumour that may invade surrounding tissues or spread to distant parts of the body.
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The process of determining which condition a patient may have.
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A term used to describe a yellow tinge to the skin and a yellowing of the whites of the eyes. It is caused by a build up of bilirubin in the blood.
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Relating to the pancreas.
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An assessment of the likely progress of a condition.
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