Four in 10 pancreatic cancers could be prevented by lifestyle changes
Almost 40 per cent of
pancreatic cancers -- one of the deadliest forms of cancer -- could be avoided
in the UK through maintaining a healthy weight and not smoking according to
Cancer Research UK, in a call to arms against the disease.
Every year 8,800 people
are diagnosed with the disease in the UK but survival rates remain very low,
with only three per cent of people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer surviving
their disease for five years or more after their diagnosis.
Cancer Research UK has
made pancreatic cancer research a priority, and has the bold ambition to more
than double its annual spend of £6million on research into the disease over the
next five years.
While more research is
needed to find better ways of diagnosing and treating the disease, there is
evidence to suggest that some pancreatic cancers are linked to being overweight
and to smoking -- and almost four in 10 could be prevented by lifestyle changes
to address this.
Sara Hiom, Cancer
Research UK's director of early diagnosis, said: "Cancer is a complex set
of diseases. For some, lifestyle can play an important role, and is one aspect
of the disease that we have some control over. Pancreatic cancer is a disease
with poor outcomes and is less well understood, so it's important that we talk
about the things people can do to stack the odds in their favour and reduce
their risk."
Professor Jeff Evans, a
clinician and researcher at Cancer Research UK's Beatson Institute in Glasgow,
said: "As a clinician it's devastating when I have to tell a patient with
advanced pancreatic cancer that there are limited treatment options that can
help them.
"Survival for this
disease remains shockingly low and this has to change. There's an urgent need
to tackle pancreatic cancer head on by building up an armoury of effective new
treatments -- and developing ways to diagnose this disease sooner, when surgery
is more effective.
"At the same time
it's important to remember that people can take steps to reduce their risk of
developing pancreatic and other cancers, by not smoking and by keeping a
healthy weight -- especially if you are prone to carrying too much around your
middle.
"Keeping
physically active and cutting down on red meat may also help reduce the
risk."
Richie Birch, 55, from
North Wales said: "I'm one of the lucky ones. This disease claimed my
mother's life but I'm still here five years after I was diagnosed with
pancreatic cancer. Most people are not so lucky, which is why we need to shine
a spotlight on pancreatic cancer research.
"My mother smoked
until the day she died and I used to smoke too, but we don't know if it was the
cause. Now, I would definitely urge people not to smoke and to be more healthy
with their diet and exercise. It's so important to be aware and do everything
you can."
Harpal Kumar, Cancer
Research UK's chief executive, said: "Pancreatic cancer is rarely in the
spotlight. Unlike most other cancers where we've seen survival rates climb,
outcomes for pancreatic cancer remain desperately poor. This is why Cancer
Research UK has made this terrible disease a research priority in our recent
strategy, and we plan to more than double the amount we spend on pancreatic
cancer research over the next few years.
"There is a long
way to go, so we intend to move quickly to ensure that we make as rapid
progress as possible in fighting this devastating disease."
Story Source:
The above story is
based on materials provided by Cancer Research
UK. Note:
Materials may be edited for content and length.
Journal
Reference:
1.
D M Parkin, L Boyd, L C Walker. 16. The fraction of cancer
attributable to lifestyle and environmental factors in the UK in 2010. British Journal of Cancer,
2011; 105: S77 DOI: 10.1038/bjc.2011.489
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Cancer Research UK.
"Four in 10 pancreatic cancers could be prevented by lifestyle
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2 July 2014. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/07/140702102329.htm>.
