Charity Calls Time
On Pancreatic Cancer
National charity, Pancreatic Cancer Action, is running a six-month campaign targeting GP surgeries in the north west to raise awareness of pancreatic cancer amongst the public and to provide supporting resources to GPs
Starting in September, the campaign will consist of posters and leaflets available for the public in hospital and doctor’s waiting rooms, along with resource packs including the latest updates on the disease and information on PCA’s e-learning module for the GPs.
Survival rates for pancreatic cancer remain very low at just under seven per cent of patients surviving five years.
This can be attributed to symptoms of the disease being vague, low public awareness, and there currently being no effective screening test to detect the disease. It is because of these factors that pancreatic cancer can be difficult for GPs to diagnose and why Pancreatic Cancer Action is providing free resources to help GPs diagnose the disease as early as possible.
Pancreatic Cancer Action is targeting the north west as it has a higher than average incidence rate of pancreatic cancer as 1071 people were diagnosed and 977 died from the disease in 2015.
Statistics show that the one-year net survival for pancreatic patients diagnosed by their GP is 31 per cent, in comparison to patients who were diagnosed by emergency which is 12 per cent.
The campaign was first piloted in Glasgow and Surrey in 2017 and proved hugely successful.
Pancreatic cancer, the UK’s fifth biggest cancer killer, is becoming an increasingly urgent problem in the UK. By 2025 deaths from pancreatic cancer are predicted to be 25 per cent higher than breast cancer in the EU.
Ellen Anthony, health and information officer at Pancreatic Cancer Action, says: “GPs play a vital role in making the crucial early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer which can give patients a much higher chance of longer-term survival if they are diagnosed in time for surgery, currently the only potential we have for a cure.
“We understand how difficult it can be for GPs to diagnose pancreatic cancer, especially in the early stages, that’s why running both a public-centred awareness campaign and providing free resources for GPs is so important.”
Pancreatic Cancer Action is committed to working towards earlier diagnosis of the disease so that surgery, currently the only cure, is made available to the sufferer. The charity fund research into early diagnosis, provide medical education programmes, and launch awareness campaigns.
If you are a GP in the area and would like a pack or if you would like a pack for your GP surgery then you can get your free pack here: www.panact.org/gp-pack
Alternatively call 0303 040 1770 or email: enquiries@panact.org
www.pancreaticcanceraction.org
