Demand Better. For Patients. For Survival.

It was devastative to hear the doctor tell my momma, you have pancreatic cancer.  Unfortunately, it was not caught early enough.

In today’s Purple for a Purpose segment – early detection.

Early detection is critical to surviving this.  Demand Better means advocating for yourself – telling doctors to listen to you.  Telling people about the risk factors and symptoms so your friends and family know what to look for.

I demand better for my momma and every person touched by pancreatic cancer.  This is why I have an even greater sense of urgency for progress toward improved patient outcomes.  One way I am doing this is to make sure as many as possible know the risk factors and symptoms.  When people are informed, earlier detection of the disease is more common, and the chances of survival is greater.  Too many people are still unaware of the symptoms.  In fact, many don’t even know where the pancreas is, or what it does.  Do you? Take this PanCAN quiz below:

1. Where is the pancreas? The pancreas is located almost exactly in the center of your abdomen – behind the stomach and in front of the spine.  It is about six inches long and shaped like a flat pear.
2. What does the pancreas do? The pancreas has two main functions: produce enzymes that help with digestion and produce hormones that regulate blood sugar.
3. Approximately how many people are excepted to be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2017? Approximately 53,670 Americans are expected to be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2017.
4. Out of 100 pancreatic cancer patients, how many are expected to live past five years? Only 9 out of every 100 newly diagnosed patients are expected to live five or more years.  Pancreatic cancer is the deadliest major cancer and has the lowest five-year survival rate as just 9%.
5. More people died from motor vehicles accidents than pancreatic cancer in 2016 (True or False)? FALSE. Approximately 40,000 people died from motor vehicle accidents and almost 42,000 people died from pancreatic cancer in 2016. 2,000 more people! Deaths from pancreatic cancer are predicted to surpass colorectal cancer around 2020, position pancreatic cancer as the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the US.
6. Is family history a risk factor for pancreatic cancer (Yes or No)? YES. A person’s risk of pancreatic cancer increases if there is a history of familial pancreatic, breast, ovarian or colon cancer, familial melanoma or hereditary pancreatitis.  Approximately 10% of pancreatic cancer cases are related to a family history of the disease.  If you believe your risk is increased, I strongly recommend consulting with a genetic counselor to determine your risk and eligibility for a screening program.
7. Is there an early detection test for pancreatic cancer (Yes or No)? NO.  Currently, there is no early detection test available to diagnose pancreatic cancer.  Individuals who think they may be at risk for developing pancreatic cancer should talk to their doctors and/or genetic counselor.
8. If diagnosed in time for surgery, a patient’s chance of survival increases by how much? 10 times! A patient’s chance of survival can potentially increase tenfold if their cancer is diagnosed at an early stage.

Demand Better with me and PanCAN and raise greater awareness for the disease, the symptoms and the risk factors.  My mom and the more than 53,000 people who will be diagnosed this year are counting on you.