Tag: World Pancreatic Cancer Day

Edinburgh Castle To Light Up Purple for World Pancreatic Cancer Day

Edinburgh Castle will be lit purple today (Thursday 16th November) for World Pancreatic Cancer Day. 

Pancreatic Cancer Action Scotland supporter Lesley Irving has arranged for the city’s iconic castle to be lit up purple to raise awareness of pancreatic cancer.

Lesley’s mum, Pauline, sadly passed away in June 2020 from pancreatic cancer. Pauline, 72, had been experiencing back pain and following a scan, she received a pancreatic cancer diagnosis. Covid-19 restrictions meant that Lesley had to say her last goodbye through the window of Ayrshire Hospice where her mum lived for the last nine weeks of her life. 

Lesley is determined to raising awareness of pancreatic cancer and hopes that shining a purple light on Edinburgh castle will help reach more people and get them talking about the disease.

She said: “I felt lost after Mum passed away and I thought I should focus on doing something positive. I hope that through fundraising for Pancreatic Action Scotland and helping to raise awareness of the symptoms of pancreatic cancer, I can help drive earlier diagnosis and better outcomes for patients.”

Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest of all common cancers, with a 5-year survival rate of less than 8%. Every year in Scotland, over 900 people are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Only 10% of patients in the UK are diagnosed in time for life-saving surgery. 

For Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month (1st-30th November), Pancreatic Cancer Action has launched their #MISSED campaign to raise awareness of pancreatic cancer symptoms to improve the statistics around missed diagnoses.

Pancreatic Cancer Action’s research has shown that despite how deadly pancreatic cancer is, only 54% of people in Scotland know anything about pancreatic cancer.

74% of people in Scotland cannot name a single symptom of pancreatic cancer. Research has also shown that many symptoms are missed, with patients visiting their GP an average of 4 times before being diagnosed.

Learn more about PCA’s Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month campaign #MISSED.

Photo credit: Ryan McEwan

Letters: World Pancreatic Cancer Day 2023

Dear Editor,

Each year in the UK around 10,500 people are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, devastating news that also affects many thousands more of their family members and friends. In this distressing time people are often unsure where to turn for support and are left feeling isolated.

Ahead of World Pancreatic Cancer Day on Thursday 16 November I want to reassure people that you are not alone. Pancreatic cancer UK’s Support Line specialist nurses, like myself and my colleagues, provide expert information and support for you. We are here to provide you and your family with practical steps and emotional support when you need it most.

I also need to ask people living with pancreatic cancer and their loved ones to help us as we research how our support services can reach even more people. We particularly want to hear from those who have never been in contact with the charity before to understand where we can make a difference.

There are two ways to contribute: either by taking a short survey or through a 1-1 interview.

Your views will be invaluable and help us continue to be there for thousands of families for years to come. To take part, please email: 

servicesreach@pancreaticcancer.org.uk

Anyone affected by pancreatic cancer can call our Specialist Nurses for support and information on our confidential, free Support Line on (Freecall: 0808 801 0707).

Thank you,

Dianne Dobson

Pancreatic Cancer UK Specialist Nurse, Pancreatic Cancer UK

4th Floor Westminster Tower

3 Albert Embankment

London SE1 7SP

Direct line: 07929 750 651

Pancreatic Cancer UK Support Line: Freephone 0808 801 0707

pancreaticcancer.org.uk

Letters: World Pancreatic Cancer Day

Dear Editor,

Pancreatic cancer is a cancer emergency. Almost 60 per cent of people with the disease are being diagnosed in A&E or other emergency care – the highest proportion of any common cancer. Sadly, for most people this means it is too late for them to have lifesaving treatment.

That’s why, on World Pancreatic Cancer Day on November 17th, I’m writing to highlight the symptoms of the deadliest common cancer.

These symptoms – which include, tummy and back pain, indigestion, unexplained weight loss and oily floating poo – are common to less serious health conditions and are a major cause of late diagnosis. If anyone experiences all, or just some of these symptoms and they aren’t sure why, they should contact their GP.

Please share this short symptoms video with your loved ones. An early diagnosis can make a lifesaving difference: https://www.pancreaticcancer.org.uk/information/signs-and-symptoms-of-pancreatic-cancer/

Our pancreatic cancer Specialist nurses are here to provide support and information to anyone affected by pancreatic cancer on our confidential, free support line on (Freecall: 0808 801 0707).

Thank you,

Dianne Dobson

Pancreatic Cancer UK Specialist Nurse

Pancreatic Cancer UK

4th Floor Westminster Tower

3 Albert Embankment

London SE1 7SP

Direct line: 07929 750 651

Pancreatic Cancer UK Support Line: Freephone 0808 801 0707

pancreaticcancer.org.uk

Letters: World Pancreatic Cancer Day

Dear Editor, 

Ahead of World Pancreatic Cancer Day on November 18th I’m writing to highlight the importance of learning the symptoms of this devastating disease. 

Worryingly, our new survey tells us that nearly a third of people in the UK would wait three months or more to seek help from their GP if they had potential symptoms of pancreatic cancer. That’s at least three times longer than recommended. 

The findings also show that the pandemic is actively deterring people from contacting their doctor, with 31% saying they would delay seeking help for longer than usual. Pancreatic cancer symptoms – which can include tummy and back pain, indigestion. unexplained weight loss and oily floating poo – are common to less serious health conditions and, tragically many people are diagnosed too late for lifesaving treatment.

In Scotland nearly 1,000 people are diagnosed with the disease each year. 

I would urge anyone who experiences some, or all, of these symptoms persistently for more than four weeks to contact their GP. Early diagnosis is vital to give people the very best chance of survival.  

Pancreatic Cancer UK have made a short video explaining the symptoms we all need to look out for. Please watch and share it with your loved ones.

It could help someone be diagnosed in time for lifesaving treatment. 

https://youtu.be/m_qVP2oau0c

www.pancreaticcancer.org.uk/the-common-symptoms-of-pancreatic-cancer 

Our Specialist nurses are here to provide support and information to anyone affected by pancreatic cancer on our confidential support line on (Freecall: 0808 801 0707). 

Thank you,

Dianne Dobson 

Pancreatic Cancer UK Specialist Nurse  

Letter: World Pancreatic Cancer Day

Dear Editor,

Around 784 people are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer every year in the UK and tragically one in four people won’t survive for a month. Three in four won’t survive for a year making pancreatic cancer the quickest killing cancer.

Despite being the cancer with the worst outcomes, many people are unaware of the disease and the devastating impact it can have. As World Pancreatic Cancer Day approaches (15thNovember) I urge your readers to find out more about the disease and spread the world about its symptoms.

An increased awareness of the symptoms, which include tummy and back pain, indigestion, itchy skin or yellow skin or eyes, unexplained weight loss and oily floating poo, could lead to more people being diagnosed at an earlier stage. The earlier people are diagnosed, the earlier they can be treated it may increase their chances of being eligible for life-saving surgery.

Your readers can find more information about World Pancreatic Cancer Day at www.worldpancreaticcancerday.org or seek support from myself or one of my colleagues on the Pancreatic Cancer UK Support Line (Freecall: 0808 801 0707).

Thank you,

Dianne Dobson

Pancreatic Cancer UK Specialist Nurse