Pancreatic Cancer Projected to Be the Second Leading Cause of Cancer
Posted by Hollie Williams on February 21st, 2019
Pancreatic cancer-the deadliest major cancer in the world-still has a 9 percent five-year survival rate according to a report released by the American Cancer Society. It’s predicted to become the second major cause of cancer-related death in the U.S. in 2020.
Over 56,700 Americans will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2019, which is a 2 percent increase over 2018, and over 45,700 individuals will die from it. The disease kills more people than breast cancer and remains the third main cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States.
Between 2014 and 2017, the five-year pancreatic cancer survival rate rose to 9 percent from 6 percent. In 2018, two drugs were approved to benefit certain pancreatic cancer patients and clinical trials to help manage patients prior to and post surgery showed a lot of promise.
In general, 2018, saw advancement in treatment and particularly immunotherapy, targeted therapies and a step towards precision medicine.
Besides, there was progress toward the identification and management of people at the risk of getting the disease and progress toward improved strategies of detecting the disease early.
While the 5-year survival rate is 9 percent, such statistics give a general sense of the impact of this cancer on the country. Nevertheless, it is essential for every pancreatic cancer patient to know all the possible treatment methods along with clinical trials, necessary to improving survival, and the best possible resources for their support.
Patients should be part of cancer networks that help them access a database for patient information in a bid to help with early detection efforts and patient care.
Clinical trials are essential to patients too, and patients who take part in these trials have better outcomes. Each of today’s treatment options got approval through a clinical trial. That’s why clinical trials are critical during diagnosis and when making a treatment decision.
About Author
The Sandler-Kenner Foundation was started by Gregory A. Echt, M.D. and his wife, Susan T. Echt, after they lost two of their dear friends, Michael and Peter, to premature deaths from pancreatic cancer.
