Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month: 5 Facts You Should Know

Pancreatic cancer is a type of digestive system cancer that starts in the pancreas. Discover the statistics linked to the disease, plus how BC Cancer — which has become an international leader in pancreatic cancer research and care — is making promising breakthroughs that are bringing hope to patients.

1. 1. Pancreatic Cancer Facts: Pancreatic cancer frequently lacks symptoms in its first stages, making it more difficult to diagnose at an early stage, and is often resistant to treatments. The disease has one of the lowest survival rates for cancer. Life expectancy for 75% of patients is one year past diagnosis, and only 10% (80 of the 800 people diagnosed each year in B.C.) will live for five years after diagnosis.
   2. Power of Donor Support: Donor support to the BC Cancer Foundation, including from the annual Capilano Volkswagen Cypress Challenge presented by Glotman•Simpson Cycling, are essential to advancing pancreatic cancer research and improving patient outcomes across B.C.

      One donor who powered change was Bob Hager, who — in the four short months between his own diagnosis with pancreatic cancer and death — gathered a multi-disciplinary team of experts to launch Pancreas Centre BC (PCBC) in 2012. With BC Cancer’s Dr. Daniel Renouf as Co-Director, PCBC was established to advance early detection and create personalized treatments. Today, the Hager family continues to support this groundbreaking research.

   3. Innovative Treatments: Launched at BC Cancer in early 2024, the PEGASUS trial is exploring how glucose management can impact responses to treatment and patient outcomes. This groundbreaking study has just initiated enrolment, marking a promising step forward for patients facing pancreatic cancer.
   4. Hereditary Risk Screening: BC Cancer’s familial pancreatic cancer program, led by Dr. Intan Schrader, is Canada’s first hereditary program to offer genetic testing for all pancreatic cancer patients. Using world-first technology developed in B.C., this program identifies at-risk family members, paving the way for early screening and potentially transforming care standards.
   5. Faster Access to Care: The PCBC’s Rapid Access Clinic aims to speed up pancreatic cancer care by shortening the time from diagnosis to treatment. The clinic brings together multidisciplinary specialists, facilitates fast-tracks testing, offers advanced genetic profiling to guide personalized treatments, and includes dedicated nurses and nurse practitioners to support and guide patients through their appointments.

With each advance, BC Cancer is rewriting the future for pancreatic cancer patients, providing new hope and pathways to better outcomes.