Pancreas Cancer Statistics

Question: My friend's grandpa got diagnosed with Pancreas cancer and I want to know more about it? Some statistics would be nice. Like how many people actually survive from it, stuff like that. For those who said I was lazy and crap that that, shut up. I did look it up, and I found a whole bunch of useless information.

Answer: Survival Rates According to the American Cancer Society, for all stages of pancreatic cancer combined, the one-year relative survival rate is 20%, and the five-year rate is 4%. These low survival rates are attributable to the fact that fewer than 10% of patients' tumors are confined to the pancreas at the time of diagnosis; in most cases, the malignancy has already progressed to the point where surgical removal is impossible. In those cases where resection can be performed, the average survival rate is 18 to 20 months. The overall five-year survival rate is about 10%, although this can rise as high as 20% to 25% if the tumor is removed completely and when cancer has not spread to lymph nodes. Tumor Size Tumor size does appear to impact survival rates. The larger the tumor, the less likely it is to be cured by resection. However, even large tumors may be removed and a number of patients with tumors greater than 4-5 cm appear to have been cured by surgery. There is increasing evidence that the best pancreatic cancer outcomes are achieved at major medical centers with extensive experience -- those that perform more than 20 Whipple procedures annually. Progression In patients where a cure is not possible, progression of the disease may be accompanied by progressive weakness, weight loss, and pain. Effective techniques for pain management are widely available today and used by physicians experienced in the care of pancreatic cancer patients. The techniques include nerve blocks and various drugs that can be taken by mouth or injection. There are also a variety of effective techniques available to treat bile duct obstruction which may produce jaundice and stomach obstruction caused by growth of the tumor. Both surgical and non-surgical techniques may be effective. There is increasing evidence that the best pancreatic cancer outcomes are achieved at major medical centers with extensive experience -- those that perform more than 20 Whipple procedures annually.

Question: cancer of the pancreas how long does he have left? My grandfather was diagnosed about 3 weeks ago after having severe pain for 6 months. I have looked on the internet and the statistics are not good. He is 73 but relitavly fit. We know he doesn't have long left and the doctor said that the tumor had been there for quite a while. How long would you predict?? cheers zxxx

Answer: My grandmother was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer a year ago as of June 18'th 2006. She died March 2'nd 2007. She had a cancerous tumor on her pancreas and most of it was removed, however, the cancer had already spread to her other organs. She did not die of the cancer though, she died of the scar-tissue that developed from the operation. Everyone's Body reacts differently. I'm very sorry about your grandfather. My grandmother and I were very close. Pancreatic cancer is very tough and only about 1% survive for more than a year. My grandmother was operated by leading surgeons at Johns-Hopkins and Georgetown...but you know... I hate to say this, but your grandfather may not live but at least you have closure. What I did was I Interviewed my grandmother, recorded her voice, and, wrote letters and stored them in a shoe box. Cancer sucks you know? If you want more information, visit Wikipeida - I would assume that it's a credible source...or more credible then me (I'm an ignorant 16 year-old). Again, I'm sorry about your grandfather. I'd predict about a year at maximum. Even if he may survive, prepare yourself for a bumpy ride and let him know that you love him. You'll be ok.