It isn't good news.
In the coming year, it is expected that 55,440 people will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
Over 44,000 of these will die of pancreatic cancer... this year...
These are horrific statistics. They represent men and women, individuals who we know, they are us, families that are facing the terrible nightmare of a disease that is brutal and ruthless...without regard to the children and spouses and loved ones who must attend the suffering that smothers hope.
When mom and I started this website and blog 7 years ago, it was expected that only 37,000 would be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
It's physically nauseating to know that today, even more people will be facing this devastating diagnosis.
The only small shred of hope is that the 5 year survival rate has gone up from 5% to 9%... and that is truly a small, very small, bit of hope.
So, where is the progress?? It is incredibly hard to hang on to hope... the current status quo for pancreatic cancer is simply unacceptable. Our hearts cry out for Mercy
This seems to be the theme of our work here. Our frustration rolls out regularly... in post after post...
Now It's Getting Personal
The Real Pancreatic Cancer Statistics
The Top 3
Let's Be Honest
The Cyclone of Fear
And so, if you are hungry for Hope {like me!}... this might be the story you need to see today...
It's called Precision Promise and it's being launched at the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.
From their website:
"Precision Promise is the first adaptive clinical trial platform for pancreatic cancer patients in the world and the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network's groundbreaking initiative to dramatically improve patient outcomes and advance the organization's goal to double survival by 2020.
Designed with a nationwide team of leading clinicians, researchers and diagnostic and drug developers, Precision Promise will continuously and rapidly bring new treatment options to patients and transform the future of clinical research."
The Precision Promise initiative is becoming reality due to the generous funding gift from the Skip Viragh family. This gift supports an adaptive clinical trial platform that will hopefully change the way we treat pancreatic cancer... and it is my continuing prayer that these new treatment options will ultimately give us the Cure we so desperately need.
In 2018, Precision Promise will open in 12 cities... these Clinical Trial Consortium sites will offer pancreatic cancer patients the opportunity to enroll in multiple trials that will evaluate new treatments alongside standard approaches, rapidly and efficiently assessing effectiveness.
A unique aspect of Precision Promise is that, in one clinical trial setting, a patient has the opportunity for a second treatment when and if the first treatment is no longer working. This has never been done before in a clinical trial setting. This empathetic understanding is crucial for the pancreatic cancer patient.
It is a springboard to Hope.
It is the Never Give Up attitude that makes a huge difference.
If you or a loved one is facing the daunting decisions that a pancreatic cancer diagnosis brings, then perhaps Precision Promise will be a place to begin... a small light in the dark and a Hand that reaches out to offer Hope...
Prayers for Grace this night,
My Love and a Hug
(because you are never alone),
Always,
Jane
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