We are hoping to create an annual event that raises money and awareness of Pancreatic Cancer; gets people together but most importantly honours Fran Clarke our mum who rocked. Mum was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer 1.2.15 and sadly passed away just 9 weeks later 23.3.15. Pancreatic cancer is the ninth most common cancer in men and tenth most common cancer in women in Australia.1
Unfortunately pancreatic cancer has a low survival rate as it is most often diagnosed at an advanced stage. Pancreatic cancer is the fifth most common cause of cancer death over all. Incidence and mortality
In 2011, 2748 new cases of pancreatic cancer were diagnosed in Australia. The risk of being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer by age 85 is 1 in 56 for Australian men and 1 in 71 for Australian women. In 2012, there were 2524 deaths resulting from pancreatic cancer in Australia – over 5% of all cancer deaths. Screening
There is no routine screening test for pancreatic cancer. Symptoms and diagnosis
Pancreatic cancer rarely causes symptoms until the cancer is big enough to touch and affect organs nearby. Early signs of pancreatic cancer include:
pain in the upper abdomen
loss of appetite
nausea and vomiting
weight loss
changed bowel motions – either diarrhoea or severe constipation
jaundice (yellowish skin and eyes, and dark urine). Less common signs include:
severe back pain
onset of diabetes (10-20% of people with pancreatic cancer develop diabetes). Tests to diagnose pancreatic cancer include:
blood tests
imaging tests: ultrasound, CT scan, MRI, PET scan
tissue sampling tests including fine-needle aspiration (needle biopsy), endoscopy and laparoscopy.
