Pancreatic Cancer Survival Rates Increasing

A new American Cancer Society's (ACS) Cancer Facts & Figures report states that the 5-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer has increased by 11 percent.

Announced on January 8, 2020, the ACS press release says ‘Thanks to a growing field of researchers, more treatment options, increased federal funding and grassroots advocacy efforts across the country, this is the first time ever the survival rate, from 9 to 10 percent, has reached double digits for pancreatic cancer.’

Despite this positive news, the ACS Facts & Figures report also reveals that more people than ever before will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and this negative trend is forecasted to continue.

In 2020, an estimated 57,600 Americans will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, with about 47,000 related fatalities.

According to the ACS report, pancreatic cancer remains the 3rd-leading cause of cancer-related deaths. 

"We are so grateful to the entire community of pancreatic cancer researchers, healthcare professionals, volunteers and advocates who have worked together alongside PanCAN to accelerate progress, but our fight is not over," said Julie Fleshman, JD, MBA, Pancreatic Cancer Action Network's president, and CEO, in a press release.

"While we are thrilled to see the 5-year survival rate reach double digits, 10 percent is still the lowest survival rate of all major cancers, which is unacceptable.”

“This (data) underscores the continued urgency for funding, research, and awareness to move the needle even further."

To support all pancreatic cancer patients and accelerate progress, PanCAN provides world-class patient resources including a Clinical Trial Finder offering access to the most up-to-date and comprehensive pancreatic cancer clinical trial database in the United States; listings of pancreatic cancer specialists; as well as the Patient Registry, a global database of patient information to help advance research and improve patient care.

Another key example is PanCAN's Know Your Tumor® precision medicine service, which was launched in 2014 to determine whether patients' tumor biology and genetics can impact their treatment decisions and outcomes. 

Today, thousands of patients have received personalized reports through Know Your Tumor, and approximately one in four of them include "actionable" findings – results that can influence that patient's treatment options.

Since its founding in 1999, the PanCAN is dedicated to fighting the world's toughest cancer.  Since 2003, PanCAN has awarded 173 grants to 170 scientists at 64 institutions, with a cumulative research investment projected to more than $104 million.

Visit PanCan for more information on the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and its urgent mission to save lives.

At the American Cancer Society, we’re on a mission to free the world from cancer. The ACS has invested more than $4.9 billion in cancer research since 1946, all to find more – and better – treatments, uncover factors that may cause cancer, and improve cancer patients’ quality of life.   

Pancreatic Cancer news published by Vax Before Cancer.