It is the 4th leading cause of death in Europe, and the 2nd leading cause of death by Cancer planned for 2020. The pancreatic cancer is the only one with an increasing mortality rate and yet it receives only 2% of research funds dedicated to cancerology. How to alert public opinion and collect funding? The second World Day against Pancreatic Cancer, which takes place on November 13, 2015, is an opportunity for patient associations around the world and for the French foundation Aide et Recherche en Cancérologie Digestive (ARCAD) to recall the importance of the fight against this disease.
A little known and poorly treated cancer
The pancreas is a gland located deep in the abdomen, behind the stomach, which plays a role in digestion and in the production of hormones. the main problem with pancreatic cancer is its late diagnosis : it is usually done at an advanced stage of the disease, which makes the chances of survival lower.
Symptoms of pancreatic cancer are nonspecific
Indeed, the main symptoms (stomach aches, jaundice) appear late. Thus, the five-year survival is only 5%. One of the areas in which to progress is therefore the prevention of patients and health professionals: in fact, 45% of French people believe that pancreatic cancer is rare or quite rare whereas it affects 12,000 new people each year in our country. . The main risk factors for this cancer are tobacco, the’obesity and the diabetes. Better monitor people combining these three factors through early detection blood markersis therefore necessary to successfully diagnose this disease earlier.
Encourage research projects
At the same time, one way of advancing the management of the disease is the multiplication of research programs, in particular through clinical trials: “it is really important that patients, caregivers and doctors mobilize themselves to design and carry out new therapeutic trials to improve care through optimized therapeutic strategies, but also the discovery of new, ever more effective molecules“explains Professor Pascal Hammel, gastroenterologist specializing in digestive oncology at Beaujon hospital (Clichy). But to develop research projects, funding is needed. For this, a measure has been launched at European level: the creation of ‘a web platform, called “Pancreatic Cancer Europe“which brings together experts, academics, patients, clinicians and political decision-makers. Its goal: to organize awareness-raising and education campaigns in order to improve diagnosis and open a register of data available to research.”Among the cancers that are still too little understood, that of the pancreas is increasing significantly and remains one of the most formidable cancers. The European platform and the call for mobilization must allow us to move forward and therefore prevent pancreatic cancer from remaining inevitable.“confides Mariella de Bausset, General Secretary of the ARCAD Foundation
Source: ARCAD Foundation press release
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