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Pancreatic Cancer Survival Increases for Third Consecutive Year
MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif. – (Jan. 6, 2017) – Yesterday, the American Cancer Society released its annual Cancer Facts & Figures report, which highlighted some encouraging news for the pancreatic cancer community.
The five-year survival rate for the disease increased, moving from 8 to 9 percent.* This is the third straight year that the five-year survival rate has climbed.
“This moderate but critical shift highlights that we are making progress and that we need to continue to accelerate our efforts,” said Julie Fleshman, JD, MBA, president and CEO of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. “I am extremely grateful to our supporters and the amazing patients that participate in clinical trials helping to make this progress possible.”
While there are successes to celebrate, there is much work to be done for patients today, and for those who will be diagnosed in 2017. It is estimated that 53,670 Americans will be diagnosed this year and 43,090 people will die from the disease.
Pancreatic cancer remains the third leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States, killing more people than breast cancer. The disease is projected to become the second leading cause of cancer-related death around 2020.
The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) is accelerating progress toward its aggressive goal to double survival by 2020 through vital research, clinical programs and patient services that will improve lives.
For more information on the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, visit www.pancan.org.
*Rates are adjusted for normal life expectancy and are based on cases diagnosed in the SEER 9 areas from 2006 to 2012, followed through 2013.
