Pancreatic cancer will become THIRD deadliest form of disease – overtaking breast cancer
THE number of people dying from pancreatic cancer will overtake breast cancer deaths next year, experts have warned.
It means the disease will become the third most deadly form of cancer across Europe, after lung and bowel cancer.
Pancreatic cancer mortality rates are increasing in many countries across the continent, and it is estimated it will cause 91,500 deaths next year.
That is compared to 91,000 deaths estimated from breast cancer in 2017.
Professor Matthias Löhr, United European Gastroenterology pancreatic cancer specialist, said: "Pancreatic cancer survival rate is lower than any other cancer.
"Consequently, it is absolutely vital that patients receive a diagnosis as early as possible to allow for surgery, which is currently the only potential for a cure."
To reach their findings, presented at UEG Week 2016, researchers used computer models to estimate mortality rates until 2025.
Pancreatic cancer survival rate is lower than any other cancer
Professor Matthias Löhr
By that time, 115,500 deaths from pancreatic cancer across Europe are projected to have increased by almost 50 per cent since 2010, when 76,000 people died from the disease.
All countries included in the study showed varying increases in pancreatic cancer death rates - from 20 per cent to 131 per cent over the 15-year period.
While pancreatic cancer is set to become the third biggest cancer killer across Europe, the number of people who get diagnosed with the disease is relatively low compared with bowel, lung and breast cancer.
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It highlights the extremely poor outlook for people diagnosed with the disease, which claimed the life of Harry Potter actor Alan Rickman earlier this year, as well as Apple founder Steve Jobs in 2011 and Hollywood actor Patrick Swayze in 2009.
Unlike many other forms of the disease, the high mortality rate linked with the disease has not improved much in the last 40 years.
The average five-year survival rate across Europe is just five per cent, while patients lose 98 per cent of their healthy life expectancy at the point of diagnosis.
Yet, despite the alarming statistics, 64 per cent of Europeans admit to knowing very little about pancreatic cancer and there is currently no reliable screening tests.
Ahead of World Pancreatic Cancer Day on November 17, experts are calling for increased awareness of the disease, to allow patients to be diagnosed in time for life-saving surgery.
"Members of the public as well as doctors are therefore advised to increase their knowledge of the signs for pancreatic cancer, which include new-onset diabetes, abdominal and back pain, a change in bowel habits and jaundice," added Professor Löhr.