Pancreatic Cancer Facts for 2009

Pancreatic Cancer: the statistics

Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the United States.¹

Pancreatic cancer has the highest mortality rate of all the major cancers. 95% of patients will die within five years of diagnosis - only 5% survive more than five years. 76% of patients with pancreatic cancer die within the first year of diagnosis.¹

Since 1975, the five year survival rate has improved only from 3% to 5%.²

This year 42,470 Americans will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and 35,240 will die from the disease. ¹

The number of new pancreatic cancer cases and the number of deaths caused by pancreatic cancer are increasing – not decreasing. The expected annual number of new pancreatic cancer cases is projected to increase by 55% by the year 2030.³

The incidence of pancreatic cancer is 50% higher in African Americans than in any other racial group in the United States. ⁴


Accomplishments: how our efforts have succeeded

Since introducing the Research Grants Program in 2003, the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network has provided nearly $5 million in funding for research. This includes nine Fellowship/Young Investigator Awards, 25 Career Development Awards, and 13 Pilot Grants. In 2009, an additional nine grants totaling close to $2.3 million will be awarded.

We launched Raise the Cure in 2008 – a campaign to secure $170 million in federal funding and $25 million in private funding for pancreatic cancer research.

In 2008, our efforts secured close to a 20% increase in the NCI’s funding of pancreatic cancer (increase from $73 million to $87 million)

In Fiscal Year 2008-2009, approximately 11,242 Pancreatic Cancer Action Network advocates sent 26,147 messages to 537 Members of Congress. This represents a 117% in the growth of participating advocates from the previous year.

The Pancreatic Cancer Research & Education Act (H.R. 745), the first-ever substantive legislation that would increase the federal commitment to pancreatic cancer research was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Established a new federal focus on the need to address the highest mortality cancers through a range of efforts including creating and leading a new Deadly Cancer Coalition. We are working to secure legislative language that, for the first time, identifies high mortality cancers as a research area needing special and intensified focus.

The Patient and Liaison Services (PALS) Associates have helped over 35,000 patients and families since the program was launched in 2002.

PALS has produced over 70 fact sheets in English and Spanish, six educational booklets, and over 25 pancreatic cancer symposia in major cities across the country. Our Community Outreach program has developed over 70 volunteer affiliates throughout the US who educate communities, raise funds and build awareness about pancreatic cancer.

It is time to take action against a disease that has been ignored
for too long.

We have the power to do something about this disease.
You have the power to help.
www.pancan.org
877-272-6226