Raising pancreatic cancer awareness can be done as an individual or group all year long, but it is especially important during Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month in November.
It is a time of the year when we have the most voices speaking about out pancreatic cancer.
World Pancreatic Cancer Day is November 17
One-day campaign aims to raise awareness about only major cancer with five-
Pancreatic cancer is the only major cancer with a five-year survival rate in the single digits. Despite advancements in treating other major cancers, there is still no early detection method for pancreatic cancer. Every day, an estimated 1,006 people worldwide are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and an estimated 985 die from it.
“While we’ve seen continued improvement in survival rates among most major cancers in the past decade, the five-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer has remained unchanged for nearly 50 years,” said Sadir Alrawi, Director of the Surgical Oncology Services @ Alzahra Cancer Center, Dubai. “Global awareness is the first step to demand more research funding and develop better resources to improve patient outcomes.”
World Pancreatic Cancer Day organizers are encouraging people to raise awareness and show that we are #InItTogether by doing the following on Nov. 17:
- Wear purple
- On social media channels, post photos with friends, family and colleagues supporting the day using the hashtags #WPCD and #InItTogether
- Connect with local pancreatic cancer advocacy organizations to be more involved
According to a global survey, almost 60 percent of people know “almost nothing” about pancreatic cancer. Advocates hope greater awareness will lead to the following:
- Improve public awareness about the disease and its symptoms
- Increase enrollment in clinical trials to improve treatment options
- Stimulate education and knowledge-sharing in the medical community
- Encourage legislative action and support that could translate into increased research funding
Global awareness will be increased by people joining the World Pancreatic Cancer Day campaign through social media and local activities.
To learn more about how you can show the world that we’re in it together to improve outcomes and create a brighter future for those fighting the deadly disease, please visit worldpancreaticcancerday.org.
About World Pancreatic Cancer Day
World Pancreatic Cancer Day (WPCD), a day dedicated to raising global awareness of pancreatic cancer, occurs in November during Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month. WPCD is an initiative of the World Pancreatic Cancer Coalition, a committee of patient advocacy organizations from around the world. The goal of WPCD is to drive an online conversation about awareness of the disease and the need for more research and funding to fight it.