Could better awareness cut pancreatic cancer deaths?
By Jane Elliott Health reporter, BBC News The pancreas sits behind the stomach Pancreatic cancer has one of the poorest survival rates of all cancers. It is the fourth or fifth commonest cause of cancer death in the UK – but only one in five of those diagnosed are considered for surgery. More than 97% of people in the UK diagnosed with pancreatic cancer die within five years, more than 80% within one year. Medical experts say there are a number of reasons for this, but ignorance plays a big part. Mr Andreas Prachalias, consultant liver transplant hepato-biliary and pancreatic surgeon at King’s College Hospital, London, said not only were people unaware of the symptoms, many were unaware of where their pancreas was or its purpose. “The pancreas is not on the public consciousness,” he said. “If people learnt to spot the symptoms, it might help.” The pancreas is a tadpole-shaped organ, which sits behind the stomach. I began noticing some odd symptoms, including dark coloured urine and the
