One of the doctors behind the Sandler-Kenner Foundation discusses the dangers pancreatic cancer poses.

Irving, TX, — Pancreatic cancer has the dubious distinction of being one of the deadliest forms of this disease known to man. With an overall five-year survival rate that is less than 10 percent, this disease strikes about 53,000 Americans each year and claims an estimated 43,000 lives. Those numbers point to the importance for people at risk to understand the dangers posed and the symptoms they need to be aware of to potentially pave the way for early diagnosis.

“There are a number of factors that combine to make a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer especially bleak,” says Dr. Gregory Echt, one of the physicians behind the Sandler-Kenner Foundation and the founder and lead surgeon at Choice Cancer Care. “Prognosis, however, is much more positive when this form of cancer is detected and treated in its earliest stages.”

According to the American Cancer Society, pancreatic cancer survival rates range between 12 and 14 percent when the cancer is detected in early stages. If it is allowed to progress to more advanced stages, however, the estimated survival rate ranges between 1 and 3 percent.

At present, there is no widely available screening tool for pancreatic cancer. As researchers work to change that and improve treatment options, it falls on patients and their healthcare providers to be vigilant. People at risk for this condition, such as type 2 diabetics, those with a family history, and people with chronic pancreatitis, should be aware of the early signs and symptoms of this condition. Concerns like jaundice, back pain, new-onset diabetes, unexplained weight loss and itchy skin may indicate the presence of pancreatic cancer.

“People who are at risk for pancreatic cancer are strongly advised to talk to their healthcare providers about those risks, how they can lower them and the symptoms they need to be mindful of,” says Dr. Echt. “Early diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer can lead to more positive outcomes.”

The Sandler-Kenner Foundation is dedicated to raising awareness about pancreatic cancer while offering support for potentially lifesaving research.

About The Sandler-Kenner Foundation
The Sandler-Kenner Foundation, established in 2007 as the Las Colinas Cancer Center Foundation, was renamed in early 2011 in the memory of Michael Sandler and Peter Kenner, both of whom passed away from pancreatic cancer, a lethal disease that is difficult to diagnose until it has reached an advanced stage.