Pancreatic Cancer Frequently Asked Questions
What is pancreatic cancer?
How common is pancreatic cancer?
What are the symptoms of pancreatic cancer?
How is pancreatic cancer diagnosed?
How is pancreatic cancer treated?
What are the side effects of treatment?
Do people survive pancreatic cancer?
What's new in research?
Can support groups help patients and their families?
What should I do to help my loved one or friend?
Is there someone I can talk to who has been through the loss of a close friend or relative?
Where can I get more information?
Why does the Rolfe Foundation give money to research - isn't that the government's job?
Shouldn't I give directly to the medical facility of my choice?
How is my donation used?
How does the Foundation choose its grantees?
Who receives money from the Rolfe Foundation?
How can I donate?
Is there a major gifts campaign?
Can my donation honor a specific person?
Will you share my information?
What is pancreatic cancer?
A small gland nestled deep in the abdomen under the curve of the stomach, the pancreas produces hormones and insulin that aids digestion and helps maintain the body's sugar levels. Pancreatic cancer occurs when abnormal cells uncontrollably multiply to form a malignant mass or tumor. There are two categories of pancreatic cancer, distinguished by where the tumor begins. The most common one, referred to as an adenocarcinoma starts in the pancreatic ducts carrying pancreatic juices or enzymes. When tumors form they may grow large enough to impact nerves resulting in back pain. The more rare kind of pancreatic cancer starts in cells that secrete hormones and insulin into blood vessels. Treatment and prognosis is different for each type and may involve a combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Prevention There is little known about prevention outside of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Cigarette smokers and overweight individuals are at higher risk for many illnesses, including cancer of the pancreas. Smokers are 2 to 3 times more likely than non-smokers to be diagnosed with this disease. Obese people are more prone to suffer from diabetes which is often connected to pancreatic cancer.
How common is pancreatic cancer?
The National Cancer Institute anticipates nearly 44,000 new cases almost equally split among men and women in the United States for 2012. Pancreatic cancer accounts for 2% of new cancer diagnoses, yet it is the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths each year. Survival depends upon its spread, but is most often under one year.
What are the symptoms of pancreatic cancer?
Symptoms are often vague, easily thought to be other problems and therefore missed or misdiagnosed. There are no definitive warning signs and no screening tests. Fatigue, unexplained weight loss and persistent backache are common to many ailments including pancreatic cancer. If skin color becomes yellowish, you may be jaundiced and should seek professional medical advice.
How is pancreatic cancer diagnosed?
Diagnosis is made following a series of medical tests. Blood tests are used to check liver function. Ultrasound may be used alone or combined with endoscopy [inserting a flexible tube into the stomach] to detect tumors. MRIs and CT scans [computed tomography] take multiple, detailed images of a patient's torso to identify tumors. A tissue biopsy may be done to confirm malignancy. Getting a second opinion Many insurance companies require a second opinion. Also, it's often helpful to talk to different specialists to make an informed decision about treatment choices and to be comfortable with the medical team that will be involved with the patient as well as his or her loved ones.
How is pancreatic cancer treated?
If detected early enough, the patient may be treated surgically. The most common operation, the Whipple, involves removing a portion of the pancreas, intestine and bile duct, then reconnecting or resecting the shortened intestine to the stomach. Patients may develop diabetes and will be on medication to improve fat and nutrient absorption while controlling weight loss and diarrhea. Patients who are not surgical candidates because of their physical condition, age or advanced disease, may be treated with radiation, a variety of chemotherapy, targeted and other drugs. What to ask your doctor or nurse before and during treatment It's always helpful to bring a list of questions to an appointment and to write down the answers. Often when any cancer is diagnosed it's difficult to think clearly and quickly process so much information. Generally, patients want to know where their cancer is located, if it has spread and if so, the extent. Ask why the oncologist suggests one treatment rather than another, whether a clinical trial is a good choice and what to expect during the course of therapy.
What are the side effects of treatment?
Each person responds in various degrees to chemotherapy and radiation, but since both damage healthy and cancerous tissue, side effects are common. These may include nausea, pain, fatigue, even changes in how food tastes and more. Discuss this with your medical team so they can help you minimize side effects.
Do people survive pancreatic cancer?
As with any aggressive cancer there are people who beat the odds, living years beyond the average pancreatic cancer patient.
What's new in research?
Today's research is extensive, focusing on areas ranging from early detection to life-extending treatments. The National Cancer Institute maintains a lengthy list of current research, searchable through its own database, called the Pancreatic Cancer Research Projects: http://researchportfolio.cancer.gov/projectlist.jsp Short and long term care Depending on how the patient feels it might be necessary or helpful to consider home health care, an intermediary or long-term care facility. Insurance might be a consideration when and if this care is needed. Patients often are most comfortable in their own homes, but might at times require round-the-clock care better provided in a skilled nursing facility. Hospice or palliative care Many hospitals offer care programs for patients no longer responsive to treatment. Palliative care is designed to give patients dignity and help their loved ones be comfortable by providing medical and psychosocial services in a medical setting or in the patient's home. Insurance often covers more costs in these programs than for patients who continue traditional care.
Can support groups help patients and their families?
Yes. Many people find comfort or guidance from others who have had similar experience with cancer. The Foundation offers a helpline which offers one-on-one support to patients and their loved ones. Please call 312-726-7766 for more information. Support for caregivers Caregivers experience a host of physical and emotional feelings while attending to the needs of patient recovering from surgery, feeling generally ill or in the end-stage of life. The Rolfe Foundation provides a one-on-one program of volunteers who've shared this experience. Please call the Foundation at 312-726-7766 for more information. You can also join a local support group to share your feelings with others in similar situations. It's often helpful to learn how other people manage their lives while caring for someone very ill. Besides the patient, the people closest to you may also experience similar feelings as you. It's okay to recognize you can't do everything alone. Talk to friends, family, your clergy, get support.
What should I do to help my loved one or friend?
Listen to their concerns, hopes and fears. You don't always have to have an answer, but your patience, loyalty and offers to help in whatever ways possible will be appreciated. Learn about pancreatic cancer to help your loved one navigate the medical, psychological, or insurance questions that might arise. When appropriate encourage social activity, family gatherings, or a support group.
Is there someone I can talk to who has been through the loss of a close friend or relative?
There are Grief or Bereavement Groups across the country. Check with the hospital where your loved one was treated. Some centers that have Hospice or Palliative Care Units offer such sessions or might refer you to others. Your church, synagogue, community center or local Cancer Wellness Center might have a group. These Groups may be led by a social worker or therapist trained in helping loved ones express their feelings of loss and adjust to the next part of their lives. On-line, personal and phone support There's nothing like talking to someone who's been where you are now. Several organizations including the Rolfe Foundation offer telephone or on-line buddies who can lend an ear to your concerns. The Rolfe Foundation collaborates with organizations that provide free services, counseling, networking resources and support groups for pancreatic cancer patients. Call our office between 9AM and 5PM Central Standard Time at 312-726-7766 or contact us through our website. We will make every effort to return your call within one business day. Cancer Wellness Centers in many areas offer a range of services from education to massage or individual, family and disease specific support groups. Their counselors and the experiences of others may offer insight about coping with your feelings. While we are not endorsing the web sites listed below, they may provide you with another avenue of discussion: Cancercare Cancer Compass Pancreatica-Confronting Pancreatic Cancer Legal and financial considerations A diagnosis of pancreatic cancer concerns the patient as well as family members. It's prudent to make sure all legal affairs are in order and check with your insurance carrier to find out about coverage. Your policy might not provide long-term care or reimbursement could limit the amount you claim. If you have Medicare, for instance, and require long-term care it only covers care in certain facilities for a limited time. If you can't afford care, have job-related or insurance problems the resources below might be helpful: CancerCare HealthCareCoach Patient Care Advocate
Where can I get more information?
First talk to you healthcare provider. You can also access information through the links below to private, government and non-profit organizations. These sites are not endorsed by the Rolfe Foundation but are provided as references for your convenience. Since healthcare constantly changes suggested tests, treatments or alternatives should always be checked with your doctor. National Cancer Institute: Pancreatic Cancer NCI Publication - What You Need To Know About Cancer of the Pancreas Johns Hopkins Pancreatic Cancer Home Page MD Anderson Cancer Center Pancreatic Cancer MEDLINEplus: Pancreatic Cancer OncoLink: Pancreatic Cancer Pancreatic Cancer Action Network - PanCan Pancreatica.org
Why does the Rolfe Foundation give money to research - isn't that the government's job?
Through the National Institutes of Health the government does fund research. And while the amount towards pancreatic cancer has risen in the last few years, it is well below funding for other ailments. Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths annually, yet federal research dollars pale in comparison to other diseases that while exacting a large toll, have far better prognosis. The only way to change these statistics is by advancing research to identify pancreatic cancer in earlier more treatable stages, and to fund investigative work to develop better treatments and hopefully find a cure.
Shouldn't I give directly to the medical facility of my choice?
You certainly can, but if you donate to us, we do the work for you. Our Medical Advisory Board guides our Grants Committee in identifying promising scientific investigators in the United States. Your funds are being specifically directed through our grants process as opposed to donating to an institution where your dollars might be part of a general operating pool.
How is my donation used?
The Foundation distributes nearly 85 cents of every dollar donated. We target 90% of our grants to fund research for early detection of pancreatic cancer and the remaining 10% to direct patient and family support services.
How does the Foundation choose its grantees?
Grant recipients go through a formal application process that is thoroughly reviewed for process, merit and long-range goals by the Foundation's Grants Committee and its Scientific Advisory Board.
Who receives money from the Rolfe Foundation?
JOHNS HOPKINS MEDICAL INSTITUTES, Baltimore, MD At its inception, the Rolfe Foundation launched a significant effort to underwrite break-through research at Johns Hopkins Medical Institutes. Our involvement with Hopkins is two-fold; we established the Michael Rolfe Endowment laying the foundation for sustainable research in early detection. The Foundation also generously supports scientists within Hopkins' Pancreatic Cancer Early Detection Laboratory. NORTHSHORE UNIVERSITY HEALTH SYSTEM, Evanston, IL Using non-invasive imaging techniques and human biology, investigators here are trying to identify pre-cancerous growths providing a baseline for observation of individuals with a family history of pancreatic cancer and when needed, earlier treatment of diagnosed patients. NORTHWESTERN MEMORIAL HOSPITAL FEINBERG SCHOOL OF MEDICINE OF NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY, Chicago, IL The Foundation's support at Northwestern has assisted the Department of Surgery and helped establish a new research lab focusing on early detection. We also created the Michael Rolfe Endowed Lecture held for medical professionals each November during the Joint Meeting of the American Pancreatic Cancer Association/International Association of Pancreatology in Chicago. International scientists at this lecture discuss the latest advances in pancreatic cancer detection, treatment and research. OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY, Columbus, OH In partnership with the Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research the Rolfe Foundation is funding research to develop an early detection test. This work uses human serum to identify specific MicroRna that may act as a marker for malignant pancreatic cancer tissue. The goal is to produce a blood test to predict whether a patient is at risk for developing this disease. UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO, Chicago, IL New research within the University's Department of Surgery is honing in on identifying a molecular genetic fingerprint specific to invasive pancreatic cancer. Hopefully this will lead to improved early detection through genetic screening. Several new studies are currently under consideration for funding.
How can I donate?
The easiest way is to click the Donate Online link on this page. You can also send a check to: Michael Rolfe Pancreatic Cancer Foundation 17 N. State St., Ste. 1500 Chicago, IL 60602. Phone - 312-726-7766 If your employer offers a matching gift program, you can maximize your donation by making your contributions at work.
Is there a major gifts campaign?
Yes, it's an ambitious three year effort built around our 1,000 Days of Research campaign. The goal is to raise $1.5 million to substantially increase funds for targeted research, spurring the creation of a simple test to identify pancreatic cancer in its earliest, treatable stage. Gifts can be made in two categories: $15,000 over three years $7,500 over three years Contributions can be made in cash, by check or credit card. Checks should be made payable to the Rolfe Pancreatic Cancer Foundation. We also accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express. Gifts of Securities: Donors can make a gift by transferring stock to the Rolfe Foundation. For specific instructions, please contact the Rolfe Foundation office at 312-726-7766. For proper acknowledgment, the office must know of your intention to transfer stock prior to the receipt of your gift.
Can my donation honor a specific person?
Yes. When you make your donation, please indicate whom you would like to honor and we will notify that person, their family or loved ones.
Will you share my information?
No. Your information is confidential. It's not sold, shared or made available to any other entity.