Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month 2023

Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month (PCAM) takes place in November 2023

Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month (PCAM) is back for 2023!

Why your support is needed this Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month

Every year, there are around 10,500 new pancreatic cancer cases in the UK, yet only 10% of patients with this cancer are diagnosed in time for life-saving surgery.

It is still the deadliest of all common cancers, with a 5-year survival rate of less than 8%. This is something that has barely improved in the last 50 years. 

Across the UK, 52% of people know ‘almost nothing’ about this deadly disease, and 76% can’t name a single symptom.  

With public awareness levels so low, Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month is vital in the fight to raise awareness of the symptoms and to ensure early diagnosis and save lives. 

#MISSED 

This Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, we’ve launched our #MISSED campaign.  

Our #MISSED campaign is for all those whose symptoms were missed and for their families and friends who miss them. 

Join us in the fight to ensure symptoms and early diagnosis are not missed and to ensure that our loved ones stay with us.  

Shockingly, 43% of people are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer when they are taken to A&E, and by this point, it’s often too late. This is because of missed symptoms and missed diagnoses. 

Research tells us that patients will visit their GP an average of 4 times before being diagnosed, with at least one patient visiting 23 times.  

It’s so important for people to know the symptoms and to go to their GP straight away. In doing so, GPs have a critical role in recognising the signs and symptoms. With early diagnosis, pancreatic cancer can be survived. For those diagnosed in time for potentially life-saving surgery, 5-year survival increases to around 30% 

That’s why our work in educating and training more GPs is vital.