Why we exist
Each year over 8,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. It is the fifth most common cause of cancer death, causing five percent of all cancer deaths each year.
Lowest survival rate
Pancreatic cancer has the lowest survival rate of all cancers – just 3% of those diagnosed survive for five years. It is also the only cancer that has seen no improvement in this figure over the last 40 years.
Overall, half of all those diagnosed with a cancer now survive for five years or more. For many cancers, five year survival rates have increased hugely since the 1970s. For breast cancer – where large amounts have been spent on research – five year survival rates have increased from 50% to 80%.
Yet despite its high death rate and lack of improvement in chances of survival, pancreatic cancer attracts little research funding in comparison with many other cancers.
Low levels of research funding
In 2007, pancreatic cancer attracted just 1.6% of all research funding. This compares to breast cancer, which is the cause of 7.8% of all cancer deaths and attracts 18.8% of funding. The figures for breast cancer show that sufficient funding for research into a disease can make a major difference in survival rates.
There are a number of factors that influence the level of research funding for particular types of cancer, but for pancreatic cancer, ‘researchability’ and fundraising are the most significant.
Researchability
Some tumour types are easier to work on than others …and many researchers are attracted to areas or disease where there is real evidence or potential for progress. Pancreatic cancer is notoriously difficult to diagnose and treat, because it is unusually aggressive, symptoms are often vague and appear at a late stage and surgery is very difficult.
Fundraising
Certain tumours attract more public donations than others. Public donations specifically for pancreatic cancer in the past have been very limited, because this cancer rarely makes the headlines. Unless directly affected, few people are aware of the disease and the need for much more research.
PCRF exists to try and address these issues – to not only raise new funds for research, but to be a voice for pancreatic cancer sufferers and argue for a fair allocation of research funding and attention.
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