The State of the Union for Pancreatic Cancer in 2023

This post could have been titled "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly on Pancreatic Cancer in 2023."

Because that's exactly what the new statistics are revealing...

When mom was first diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2010, she was one of 43,000 Americans being diagnosed.

Today, the American Cancer Society finds that number on the rise... Over 64,000 men and women in America will be diagnosed with the disease this year.

That would be the Bad news.

Statistics also reveal that deaths from pancreatic cancer now outnumber deaths from breast cancer, and will likely exceed deaths from colorectal cancer soon, making it the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the US by 2030.

That is the Ugly.

So, please, may there be some Good news?!

According to a recent PanCan statement, the 5-year survival rate for Pancreatic Cancer has risen to 12%.  I know... that number seems paltry... hard to call it good.  But, 10 years ago, that survival rate was only 6%.  The increased survival rate this year means that more than 7,600 of those newly diagnosed will be winning the battle 5 years from now.  That is Good News.

And here's the thing... statistics don't tell the whole story.  Statistics cover overall population trends, not individual patient results.  Every person is unique and their cancer battle is personal.  And while cancer may not define you, it will change you.

It is why we tell our story... again and again.  It is why we listen.  Why we pray.  The passion that drives our search for a cure.  The hope that beats strong.

The belief that one day pancreatic cancer will only be a chapter in your life, not the whole story...

So in 2023, we continue the fight.  As the number of pancreatic cancer diagnoses rises, the fight becomes more urgent.

It's our prayer that no one ever fights alone.

Walking this journey out together... In Love tonight,
                                                                             Jane

The Hope we are Hungry for...

The American Cancer Society has just released their 2018 statistics for pancreatic cancer...

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

The Real Pancreatic Cancer Statistics...with Hope

 

* Pancreatic Cancer will affect more than 46,000 people this year.

*Pancreatic Cancer is one of the most difficult cancers to detect and treat...mainly because there are few early stage symptoms and it is often not diagnosed until the cancer is well advanced.

*Pancreatic Cancer does not discriminate and will strike just as many men as women.

*Pancreatic Cancer is traditionally treated in one of 3 ways: chemotherapy, surgery and/or radiotherapy.

*Pancreatic Cancer treatments are generally not curative, meaning that the treatments are only used to help prolong a patient's life, not cure them.

*Pancreatic Cancer's 5 year survival rate is only about 6%.

*Pancreatic Cancer will be the cause of death for more than 39,000 people this year.

 

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These Pancreatic Cancer statistics are beyond sobering.  They are horrific and unbelievably discouraging to those of us personally affected...

 

Might I share some of the notes we have received from the so-called statistics?   Profoundly raw emotion, with hearts torn and grieved... 

 

"My father is 67, diagnosed in March, stage 4, inoperable. He is between rounds 5 and 6 of Flofrinox but I think he's about had enough. He means so much to me, my mom, my three boys. He is/was the rock in our lives and we are all trying desperately to hold it all together. My thoughts and prayers are with you, your mom and your family."  ~ Stacy

 

 

"I am the 52 year old daughter of a 72 year old mother with stage iv terminal cancer which has metasticized to her liver. Just wondering how you all got through it. I am constantly sad and depressed. Trying to get hope, but realizing hope is in short supply. What did you do to get past this? I spend all my time on the net trying to find a cure for that which has no cure. Will we come to any time of peace with this?"  ~ Mary

 

"my father-in-law also just found out he has cancer..Very scary he has stage 2 Pancreatic cancer. I lost my dad in 2005 and this is really hard on me to cope with... "  ~ Trinity

 

 

"Good afternoon. My dearest friend was just diagnosed in September with pancreatic cancer - she is 51 - she had the whipple surgery done in October  (2012) in Pittsburgh PA. Two days before Christmas Eve they found out the cancer was in her liver and there was nothing more that they could do. She then went to Texas in January where she could not even receive "clinical trials" as the cancer was in liver, abdomen, neck lymph node and lung. She cannot eat due to the Whipple surgery as much as she tries & tries. She is in so much pain. Then the chemo that she is getting (she is getting 4 treatments once every two weeks) is just wearing her down. I am so afraid for her. She is getting weak. The pain is unbearable. I cannot stand to see my dear friend so sad and in so much pain. Thank you so much for listening."  ~  Fran

 

*   *   *   *   *

 

The ache is palpable.  These are the Pancreatic Cancer statistics that truly matter.  Our mothers, our fathers, our husbands, our friends... families torn apart with the agony of this cancer.

 

And I would be living in an endless black hole of depression if I thought there was no hope...

 

Oh, but, there is.  HOPE.  In Giant Letters.  Pointing us onward in our journeys.  Believe it.  Hang on to it.  Fight for it.

 

HOPE is the reason we can take that first step and then the next step and the next...

 

We've also received so many more letters like the following.  Read on, be lifted up.  Know that there is HOPE, no matter where this journey takes you...

 

 

"My brother was just diagnosed with stage 3 pancreatic cancer. He is 49 and has a 2 yr old son. The fight is on! Similar to your described diagnosis, he has a tumor that is inoperable and has surrounded his arteries by 50%. He is planning on getting a nerve block for the pain tomorrow. Chemo will start when he heals from the exploratory surgery that found the problem." ~ Scott 

 

"Dad's cancer was discovered at stage IV with metastasis to the spine and lungs. It is strange to look back and see in retrospect that shoulder pain he had last fall (thinking it was a pulled muscle from an afternoon of raking leaves) was actually a result of metastasis since the mass in the spine is pressing on nerves. Looking back, that was one of the first hints there was anything wrong, and clearly, the cancer was already well on the move before he even knew it. As the specialists he saw confirmed, and as you already know, this is such a tough disease given that it's usually at an advanced stage before one ever knows it. I think you captured those feelings when you said you felt as if you'd been thrown under the bus before you could even do anything about it. Well said. My parents had time in between all the consultations and appointments to consider how to proceed should our worst fears of a pancreatic cancer diagnosis be realized. Given all that was shared with him by the specialists (at Duke University Cancer Center - "top drawer" as he says!) and the overall prognosis, he declined chemo. He did not want to prolong life for a brief time only to have that time be on chemo and interfere with quality of life that he might otherwise have. After he said that, the oncologist actually said she thought that was wise in this case (and that she doesn't usually share opinions like that). As a result, all treatment is palliative. He has had radiation to the spine to attempt to arrest that growth and alleviate pain as that's where most of his pain has been centered, and that treatment is finished. At this time, the pain meds have been tweaked to a point where they are managing his pain well. That's a blessing. We (my husband and I have a 4 1/2 year old son - my parents' only grandchild and the light of their lives) have been spending time with him continuing to make memories and make the most of this time. As you said, we have no regrets. We're a close and loving family so we've always been very appreciative and lived life to the fullest. He had open heart surgery 6 years ago and considers all the time he's had since then to be a huge gift, particularly because we had our son in that time. He has an amazing sense of peace. I know that is God's grace at work here, and for that we are thankful. Despite the heartbreak and sorrow, I can see the good gifts in this time, and I am thankful for the lessons we are learning by his courageous example."  ~ Collette

 

Two very different journeys, but both sharing HOPE with abandon.  Might you feel it too?

 

When the statistics for Pancreatic Cancer are read, let it loudly be noted, in your life and mine, that God's grace is at work here... and The Fight is on!

 

Graced with Hope tonight.