In 2023, an estimated 64,050 Americans will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the U.S., and more than 50,550 will die from the disease. Pancreatic cancer has the highest mortality rate of all major cancers. It is currently the 3rd leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States after lung and colon.
Symptoms for pancreatic cancer may include weight loss, abdominal discomfort, back pain, development of type 2 diabetes and some tumors may cause jaundice leading to earlier diagnosis.
Pancreatic cancer has the highest mortality rate of all major cancers. For all stages combined, the 5-year relative survival rate is 12%. For the small percentage (15%) of people diagnosed with local disease, the 5-year survival rate is only 44%.
More than 90% of cases are pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC), that develop in the exocrine tissue of the pancreas, which makes digestive enzymes.
The less common pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), develop in hormone-producing endocrine cells, or islet cells. Neuroendocrine tumors often have a better prognosis and younger median age of diagnosis.
More than 90% of cases are pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC), that develop in the exocrine tissue of the pancreas, which makes digestive enzymes. Treatment options for pancreatic cancer: Surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy are treatment options that extend survival or relieve symptoms, but seldom produce a cure. Surgical removal of the tumor is possible in less than 20% of patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer because detection is often in late stages and has spread beyond the pancreas. Adjuvant treatment with chemotherapy (and sometimes radiation) may lower the risk of recurrence. For advanced disease, chemotherapy (sometimes along with a targeted drug therapy) may lengthen survival. Clinical trials are testing several new agents for their ability to improve survival.
Pancreatic cancer has the highest mortality rate of all major cancers. It is currently the 3rd leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States after lung and colon and expected to become the 2nd by 2030.
*Source for statistics: American Cancer Society: Cancer Facts & Figures 2023
Exercise can lower the risk of developing pancreatic cancer and has the potential to improve physical fitness and quality of life in patients with the disease.
Exercise can lower the risk of developing pancreatic cancer and has the potential to improve physical fitness and quality of life in patients with the disease.
AnCan
Our Mission
AnCan is about people helping people, peer-to-peer … we are people living with various conditions and situations who help others faced with similar issues. We do this collectively and individually by providing answers, support and navigation to empower people living with serious and chronic conditions to address their worlds.
Our Vision
AnCan’s vision is to provide easily accessible, inclusive virtual peer support for every serious disease and condition allowing widespread participation, especially to those geographically, physically or socially disadvantaged.
Collaboration with other non-profits underpins our strategy.
Our Groups
AnCan is the FIRST virtual real time audio/visual peer-to-peer support group platform.
Our virtual, video chat groups can be accessed online via your desk or laptop computer, mobile device or by telephone. These virtual support group meetings are currently conducted on the GoToMeeting platform; to learn how to join, click here.
AnCan currently offers 20+ virtual groups monthly on a drop-in and free basis, no commitment! AND we’ve been doing this long before you ever heard of Covid.
The Pancreatic Cancer Group meets the 4th Thursday of each month at 8 PM EST. Our moderators are patients and caregivers who intimately understand the struggles associated with Pancreatic Cancer. We aspire to come together to give strength, bring encouragement, and provide support to patients and caregivers from all over the world. This is a peer-moderated group. As such, we cannot provide medical advice; we can speak about our own experiences with Pancreatic Cancer. We are here for you, and look forward to meeting you!
Hirschberg Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research
One important aspect of the Hirshberg Foundation’s mission is to be recognized as a patient support and reference source for pancreatic cancer patients and their families. Since 1998 the Foundation has contributed an annual grant to Cancer Care, Inc., which provides financial support for pancreatic cancer patients.
Cancer can have a devastating impact on a person’s financial well-being. Costs related to transportation to and from treatment, pain medication, child care, and home care can be overwhelming for patients and loved ones.
The following services are provided through our grant program at Cancer Care: Limited Financial assistance for Transportation/Treatment costs, Home Care, Pain medication, and Childcare.
Who is Eligible?
- Any person diagnosed with pancreatic cancer with maximum liquid assets of $15,000
- MedicAid eligible or MedicAid pending
To apply, please call Cancer Care at (800) 813-4673 and ask for the Hirshberg Pancreatic Program.
National Pancreatic Cancer Foundation
The financial assistance program is a program that has been put in place to assist those with pancreatic cancer to help cover basic cost of living expenses. Due to the overwhelming response we have received for this program, we are only able to provide assistance for necessary living expenses.
Pancreatic Cancer Action Network
The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network’s Patient Central is the place to contact when facing pancreatic cancer. Patient Central provides free, personalized information about the disease, including our support services. Patient Central can also find resources for any questions you have related to pancreatic cancer. No organization supports pancreatic cancer patients like we do. Through our Patient Services, we provide more resources and speak with more pancreatic cancer patients and caregivers than any other organization in the world.
We Wage Hope with free comprehensive services individualized for each pancreatic cancer patient. We connect each patient or family member with a highly educated, expertly trained and compassionate Patient Central Associate who provides information about the disease, treatment options, clinical trials searches, diet and nutrition, Know Your Tumor personalized medicine service and much more.
Contact a Patient Central Associate toll-free at (877) 272-6226 or email [email protected]. Associates are available M – F, 7AM – 5PM, Pacific Time. Resources and Patient Central Support.
Project Purple
Provides financial aid with mortgage/rent, utilities, and medical bills pertaining to pancreatic cancer.
Purple Iris Foundation
The mission of The Purple Iris Foundation is to raise awareness, provide support, and give hope to individuals and families affected by cancer, in Maine.
[email protected]
Chris Parrish founded The Purple Iris Foundation as a result of what was then her 18 month journey through pancreatic cancer. She was given the life-changing news on June 16, 2008. Needless to say, she initially reacted with shock and then was told that she had only 3-6 months to live with treatment. She was appalled and decided then that no one in her lifetime should be given this news – thus The Purple Iris Foundation was born to help raise awareness and support her fellow patients. Christina is proud to say that she is a 8-year survivor. Christina is living proof that there is hope.
Rolfe Pancreatic Cancer Foundation
Building Connections.
Funding Research.
Ongoing Support & Education.
Rolfe Pancreatic Cancer Foundation is committed to providing comprehensive support for individuals and families affected by Pancreatic Cancer. Its primary focus includes offering personalized assistance and direct connections to patients and their loved ones, funding critical early-detection research, and raising awareness about Pancreatic Cancer risks and symptoms.
Through a hands-on approach, Rolfe Foundation ensures that no one has to navigate the challenges of Pancreatic Cancer alone.
We provide education, resources, and a network of medical experts to help you and your family fight a pancreatic cancer diagnosis. And we continue to fund early detection research and education because we know that provides the highest probability of successful treatment. Like you, we yearn for a cure. In the meantime, we remain committed to you and your loved ones. We are in this fight together.
The American Cancer Society estimates that nine out of every ten Americans diagnosed with pancreatic cancer will die within five years of first discovering their tumor. The Rolfe Pancreatic Cancer Foundation is committed to changing these grim numbers, and to improving the prognoses of patients who face this fearful disease. If you woould like to be part of our efforts, we urge you contact us today.
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