Statewide Iowa — It was one year ago that longtime “Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebek died from pancreatic cancer and Iowans who’ve lost loved ones to the disease are working to raise awareness in his honor.
Mike Schreurs a volunteer with the Iowa chapter of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network or PanCAN, says better awareness is the first step toward solving the problem.
Pancreatic cancer is the third leading cause of cancer related death in the United States. With the holidays approaching, many Iowans will be around family in the coming weeks and it may offer an ideal time to have a conversation about the risks. The experts suggest if there’s a family history of this deadliest of cancers, testing is likely warranted.
The five-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer is only ten percent, so just one in ten people who are diagnosed come through the ordeal alive. That ten percent rate, while meager, has actually improved in recent years.
By comparison, the five-year breast cancer survival rate is 95 percent. It’s estimated 600 people will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in Iowa this year and more than 500 of them will die. The fast moving disease is difficult to diagnose because the symptoms can be vague and are often ignored until it’s too late. They include abdominal pain and back pain, changes in stool, yellowing skin, weight loss, appetite loss, and a feeling of being full after only eating a little food. Learn more at www.pancan.org.
