Pancreatic cancer is the 4th leading cause of cancer death in the United States, but receives the least research funding of the major cancers.
Updated:
Oct. 15, 2005
Public awareness is crucial
for pancreatic cancer research
By Brian Davis (1957-2005)
Tribute
There is a national tragedy
that no one is talking about.
This story does not make
headlines. You will not see it on
the evening news or hear about
it on the radio. It is usually mentioned
in the obituary section of
the local newspaper. Yet its
impact is felt by countless people
in all 50 states. This stealth
killer moves quickly and without
apparent reason. Yet few
take notice until it is too late.
I know this killer all too well. I
was formally introduced to it on
January 24, 2002. I was diagnosed
with pancreatic cancer
that day. Little compares with
receiving such grave news. I
was lucky, though. My tumor
was operable. Surgery provides
the only hope for cure from this
horrific illness, yet is possible in
only 10 percent to 15 percent of
pancreatic cancer cases.
The vast majority of individuals
diagnosed with pancreatic
cancer die within three to six
months. With a mortality rate
somewhere between 96 percent
and 99 percent (depending on
whose statistics you believe),
precious few survive this particular
dance with death. This
deadliest malignancy is the
fourth-leading cause of cancer
death in this country. In the
United States this year, 31,800
will die from this disease; 850 in
Massachusetts alone.
Why does pancreatic cancer
continue to be such a silent
killer? We have witnessed tremendous
advances in some of
the other leading cancer mortalities
in the past 30 years. Breast
cancer, for example, which had
a five-year survival rate of 75
percent in 1974, is currently just
under 87 percent. Prostate cancer
survival moved from 67 to
almost 99 percent. Pancreatic
cancer, meanwhile, remains
stagnant. Two things distinguish
cancer of the pancreas
from the other leading cancer
killers. First is the general lack
of awareness about the disease.
Most people recognize that it is a
particularly deadly illness, a
virtual death sentence. Yet few
could tell you where the pancreas
is located (in the abdomen
behind the stomach) let alone its
function (it produces hormones
including insulin and enzymes
to aid in the digestion of food).
This lack of awareness is due
in part to the absence of earlydetection
techniques. It is not a
routine consideration in health
care. Given its location, any
abnormalities in the pancreas
are not likely to be found during
an annual physical exam. There
is no accurate blood test available.
It becomes a concern only
when symptoms are manifest,
usually too late for curative
treatment. Another reason for
this lack of awareness stems
from the high mortality rate of
pancreatic cancer. There are so
few survivors that the critical
mass necessary for mounting a
national awareness campaign is
severely lacking. It is very difficult
for those who have lost
loved ones to pick up the mantle
and carry on this fight. Most
will seek closure and healing.
Thank God that some choose to
continue the battle.
The second distinctive feature
of pancreatic cancer is the
lack of adequate research funding.
The following points are
made not to pit one cancer
against another or to suggest
that some cancers are overfunded.
Rather they illustrate
two important issues. First,
pancreatic cancer research is ridiculously
underfunded. This is
a national disgrace. Second, one
sees the clear connection between
National Cancer Institute
funding and the progress that
has been made in treating these
other cancers.
The NCI, part of the federal
National Institutes of Health, is
the leading provider of funding
for cancer research in the country.
Of the five leading cancer
mortalities, four received more
than a quarter of a billion dollars
in NCI support in fiscal
2003. Pancreatic cancer
research, not surprisingly, was
the exception, receiving just
more than $42 million in support.
Believe it or not, these figures
represent an improvement
over prior funding. From fiscal
1996 through fiscal 2003, each of
the other cancers received at
least $1.4 billion in support. Pancreatic
cancer received $166.9
million during this period.
So where do we go from here?
First, we must raise public
awareness about the horror of
this disease. We must contact
our congressional representatives
and our U.S. senators,
demanding increased support
for the National Cancer Institute.
We cannot stand by as budgets
are level-funded or cut. Every
day 1,500 people die of cancer
in the United States. Cancer
recently overtook heart disease
as the leading cause of death of
those under 85 in the United
States. This is a national crisis
and those making important
decisions are not listening. Let’s
make some noise.
After confronting the personal
odds which I faced some 38
months ago, I now know that
anything is possible. I also know
that it cannot be done alone.
"As I See It" Op-Ed, published May 23, 2005, Worcester Telegram & Gazette
Get involved!
If interested in learning more or helping on a committee, please email us at
Hope@PancreaticAlliance.org
