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A photo of a Fox Chase doctor and a patient sitting at a desk, while the doctor gestures at the screen.
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PHILADELPHIA (November 4, 2019) – November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness month. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), pancreatic cancer accounts for about 3 percent of all cancers in the U.S. and about 7 percent of all cancer deaths. It is estimated that about 56,770 people will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and about 45,750 will die from the disease in 2019.
Fox Chase Cancer Center seeks to educate men and women about pancreatic disease and its risk factors.
Pancreatic cancer starts in the tissues of the pancreas, an organ in the abdomen that lies horizontally behind the lower part of the stomach. The pancreas releases enzymes that aid digestion and hormones that help manage blood sugar.
“Typically, individuals have no symptoms of pancreatic cancer, and the most common presentation is painless jaundice, or yellowing of the skin,” explained Sanjay S. Reddy, MD, FACS, assistant professor in the Department of Surgical Oncology at Fox Chase. “Because the pancreas is located deep inside the body, early tumors cannot be seen or felt in a routine physical exam.”
While no screening tests have been shown to lower the risk of individuals dying from pancreatic cancer, there are newer tests for detecting pancreatic cancer early that can benefit individuals who are at high risk. The two most common include endoscopic ultrasound and MRI. Doctors have been able to find early, treatable pancreatic cancers in some members of high-risk families with these tests.
“Many times, routine imaging also shows incidental pancreatic findings. When discovered, these should be evaluated,” said Reddy. “The majority of incidentally found pancreatic masses are benign cysts, but being proactive in follow-up remains important.”
Several factors are known to increase one’s risk for pancreatic cancer. While some can be changed, such as those relating to lifestyle, others cannot, like age and family history.
"Having one or many risk factors doesn’t mean you’ll develop pancreatic cancer. On the same note, people who get pancreatic cancer may have few or no known risk factors,” said Reddy. “The best way to reduce your risk is to avoid or change behaviors that are known risk factors.”
It is important for individuals with pancreatic cysts to be seen by clinicians with expertise in pancreatic masses and pathology. Fox Chase Cancer Center’s Pancreatic Cyst Clinic is designed to evaluate and treat patients with known or suspected pancreatic cysts. The Fox Chase multidisciplinary team evaluates the size, growth rate and composition of a patient’s cyst to determine if surgery or monitoring is the best treatment option. To learn more, visit FoxChase.org.
Fox Chase Cancer Center (Fox Chase), which includes the Institute for Cancer Research and the American Oncologic Hospital and is a part of Temple Health, is one of the leading comprehensive cancer centers in the United States. Founded in 1904 in Philadelphia as one of the nation’s first cancer hospitals, Fox Chase was also among the first institutions to be designated a National Cancer Institute Comprehensive Cancer Center in 1974. Fox Chase is also one of just 10 members of the Alliance of Dedicated Cancer Centers. Fox Chase researchers have won the highest awards in their fields, including two Nobel Prizes. Fox Chase physicians are also routinely recognized in national rankings, and the Center’s nursing program has received the Magnet recognition for excellence six consecutive times. Today, Fox Chase conducts a broad array of nationally competitive basic, translational, and clinical research, with special programs in cancer prevention, detection, survivorship, and community outreach. It is the policy of Fox Chase Cancer Center that there shall be no exclusion from, or participation in, and no one denied the benefits of, the delivery of quality medical care on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/expression, disability, age, ancestry, color, national origin, physical ability, level of education, or source of payment.
For more information, call 888-369-2427
A photo of a Fox Chase doctor and a patient sitting at a desk, while the doctor gestures at the screen.