Data just released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW)i estimates that more Australians than ever before will be claimed by pancreatic cancer, a disease that is, for the first time, acknowledged to be a common cancer.
Pancreatic cancer has a devastatingly low five-year survival rate of only 12.5%. The disease is predicted to claim more lives than breast cancer this year (an estimated 3,669 people) and has the lowest survival rate of all common cancers. Over 4500 people will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer this year, and 80 per cent of patients will die within 12 months.
“Pancreatic cancer results in limited visibility and reduced public awareness, and consequently, many people are aware that pancreatic cancer is now a common cancer,” says Michelle Stewart, CEO of PanKind, The Australian Pancreatic Cancer Foundation.
“In contrast, more high-profile cancers experience survival rates of over 90% while for pancreatic cancer the survival rate is only 12.5%, which drops alarmingly to just 6.8% for people who live in regional Australia,” continued Ms Stewart. There has never been a more critical time to call for increased funding.”