Fast Facts        

• Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest forms of cancer. This type of cancer strikes about nine out of every 100,000 people and is the fourth-leading cause of cancer death in the United States. The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2006, about 33,730 people in the United States will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and approximately 32,300 will die of this disease (including some diagnosed last year). 

• The causes of pancreatic cancer are not fully known, and there’s no way to prevent the disease. Cancer of the pancreas is caused by changes (mutations) in DNA. These mutations may be present at birth or may be acquired later. Although certain factors – including age, gender, race, diet, weight and tobacco use – may affect your risk for pancreatic cancer, there is currently no 100 percent accurate way to screen for or prevent this disease. To improve your odds, don’t smoke, maintain a healthy weight, eat well (avoiding red and processed meats in particular) and exercise regularly.

• Pancreatic cancer is difficult to treat. Until recently, a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer was viewed as a “death sentence.” Today, there are surgical and other treatments that can cure pancreatic cancer in some patients. The cornerstone of the treatment of pancreatic cancer is the removal of the tumor through a pancreaticoduodenectomy (for treating tumors in the head of the pancreas) – more commonly referred to as a “Whipple procedure” – or a central or distal pancreatectomy (for tumors in the body and tail or neck of the pancreas, respectively), although not all patients are candidates for these surgical procedures.

• Patients should seek out a medical center that performs a high volume of pancreatic cancer surgeries. Studies indicate that outcomes are better for patients who undergo a Whipple procedure or other related surgery at a medical center where surgeons perform a high volume of these operations. Surgeons at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital have performed more than 140 pancreatic resections so far this year. In addition, Jefferson surgeons are also using an innovative procedure, called "the Mini-Whipple,” that preserves the entire stomach, the sphincter between the stomach and duodenum, and the upper part of the duodenum.