Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest cancers, yet few people are aware of it.  It has the highest mortality rate of all the cancers -- less than one in 100 people are likely to survive after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.  In this article, we will discuss the steps taken to work on a pancreatic cancer cure.

Right now pancreatic cancer ranks fourth on the list of deadliest cancers, in terms of how many people lose their life to this cancer each year.  The problem with pancreatic cancer is that the symptoms often do not manifest until the later stages of the cancer.

This is too bad, because the greatest chance of a pancreatic cancer cure will happen in the first stage, when the tumor is only contained within the pancreas, and has yet to spread.  However, fewer than 20% of all pancreatic cancer cases are found in the first stage.

And even if it is located, the chance of surviving for five years after the surgery is performed to remove the tumor is only 18 to 24%. 

So in effect, only one out of every five pancreatic cancer cases are discovered in a stage where it is possible to be cured.  Then only one out of those five actually survive past five years, after the pancreatic cancers removed.  The result is only about 5% of people will survive past five years after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

Cures so far have not been discovered for pancreatic cancer.  A total pancreatectomy -- where the pancreas is completely removed -- has been attempted, so far without promising results.  The problem is after you have your pancreas removed, you will have severe that diabetes.

In addition, you will have to take enzymes daily to digest your food.  Then it is likely you will have to have vaccinations and antibiotics for the rest of your life.

Currently, scientists are working on a vaccine to prevent pancreatic cancer before it occurs.  Development of this vaccine began 2006, and so far test have shown positive results.  If a vaccine were to be created, this would be the best chance for a pancreatic cancer cure, or at the very least, a reduction of cases of pancreatic cancer.

As it stands, 33,000 people each year in the United States alone are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.  And statistically speaking, only 1650 of those people will be alive in the next five years, unless there is a pancreatic cancer cure discovered.

Pancreatic Cancer |