World Pancreatic Cancer Day (WPCD) is held annually on Thursday 20th of November, a crucial global initiative dedicated to increasing the visibility of one of the deadliest cancers.
A Unified Global Effort: The Power of Purple Lights
Pancreatic Cancer UK joins a vast network comprising over 100 organisations across 39 countries and actively participates in this worldwide campaign. Playing a key role in steering its committee, ensuring a unified and powerful global conversation each year.
“Purple Lights for Pancreatic Cancer” is a major visual initiative that runs throughout the month. This is done by the use of the colour purple, the international symbol of pancreatic cancer awareness.
How to Get Involved:
- Light Up Landmarks: Contact local authorities or owners of prominent buildings and landmarks in your area to request they light up purple for the cause.
- Light Up Your Home: You can also participate by lighting your own home purple throughout November, not just on WPCD, to keep the spotlight on the need for increased research and attention.
Understanding Pancreatic Cancer
The pancreas is an essential gland located deep in the abdomen, behind the stomach.
It serves a dual role: it secretes hormones (like insulin) directly into the blood for the endocrine system and produces powerful digestive juices that flow into the small intestine to help break down food and absorb nutrients (the exocrine system).
The most common form of the disease is pancreatic adenocarcinoma, which starts in the cells that line the ducts responsible for carrying the digestive juices (the exocrine section).
Pancreatic cancer is notoriously aggressive and considered one of the deadliest cancers. Its high mortality rate is largely because it often presents no noticeable symptoms until it is already advanced and has spread, making early detection extremely rare.
Key Facts and Statistics
While it is a rare cancer, pancreatic cancer has devastating statistics, particularly in the UK:
- It is the fifth most common cause of cancer death in the United Kingdom.
- Annually, the number of new cases (around 9,921) is tragically close to the number of deaths (around 9,263).
- The 10-year survival rate is only about 1%, reflecting the cancer’s aggressive nature and difficulty in treatment.
- It primarily affects older individuals, with the majority of diagnoses occurring in people over the age of 75.
What are the symptoms?
In the early stage of the disease, there are no symptoms. As the cancer progresses, some symptoms may appear:
- Jaundice
- Abdominal or back pain
- Weight loss
- Dark urine
- Loss of appetite
- Diabetes
- Light coloured stools
How do you diagnose pancreatic cancer?
If any symptoms are noticed, you need to be seen by a GP. The GP will have a feel to see if any lumps or enlargements of the organs. They may also check for signs of jaundice. A blood test will also be taken if there is any endocrine function.
If there are any worrying signs, you will be referred to a specialist at the hospital. Further tests will be done, such as:
- Ultrasound
- CT scans
- MRI Scans
- PET Scans
- Endoscopy – A tube with a camera is interested through the mouth.
- Laparoscopy – A camera is inserted through the pancreas. A biopsy will be taken to identify the cells.
Treatments for Pancreatic Cancer
Pancreatic cancer is notoriously difficult to treat because it is often detected at advanced, late stages. The pancreas’s location, hidden behind and surrounded by vital organs, also makes traditional treatments like chemotherapy and radiotherapy less effective and risks damaging surrounding tissues.
Surgical Options:
Surgery offers the only chance for a complete cure, but this is only possible if the cancer has not spread outside the pancreas. Due to the complexity, long recovery time, and high risk of these procedures, surgery is typically reserved for younger, fitter patients.
The three main complex surgical procedures are:
- Whipple Procedure: The most common surgery, removing the head of the pancreas along with parts of the small intestine, bile duct, and stomach. Patients often require lifelong enzyme supplements for digestion.
- Distal Pancreatectomy: Removes the tail and body of the pancreas, and often the spleen and surrounding structures.
- Total Pancreatectomy: Removes the entire pancreas, bile duct, spleen, and parts of the stomach/intestine. This results in the patient becoming diabetic (requiring insulin) and needing digestive supplements.
Less invasive surgeries are also available to ease symptoms, but they cannot cure the cancer.
Non-Surgical Treatments:
If the cancer has spread and cannot be surgically removed, or if it is used in combination with surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy can be used. These treatments aim to shrink tumours, relieve symptoms, or eliminate residual cancer cells.
However, these systemic treatments can be harsh, causing side effects like hair loss and nausea.
For older patients (often over 70) or those with a poor prognosis, the extensive risks and side effects of both surgery and systemic treatments must be carefully weighed against the limited potential benefits.
In such cases, the healthcare team may recommend a focus on palliative or end-of-life care instead.
Frequently asked questions:
Who can bring about a claim?
If you feel that you have been affected as a result of late diagnosis or incorrect or inappropriate treatment, then you may be entitled to bring a compensation claim.
The team at Oakwood Solicitors Ltd will be able to give you free advice on the prospects of your case and whether you would be eligible to make a claim.
The patient who has been affected may be able to bring about a claim. However, it can also sadly be the case that the patient has passed as a result of the disease. In such instances, the executor of the estate or the next of kin/dependents may be able to bring about a claim.
Our specialist team will be able to discuss whether you have a right to bring about a claim, so if you or a loved one has been affected, do not hesitate to contact us.
How long will my case take to run?
Given the complexities involved in pursuing clinical negligence claims, they can often take 18-24 months to conclude and longer if court proceedings have to be issued.
Our investigations start by obtaining all relevant records and protocols before approaching independent medical experts for their opinion. We will provide you with regular updates on the progress of your case to ensure that you are kept up to speed.
How much is my claim worth?
It is often difficult to value clinical negligence claims at their outset, given the complexities involved; however, we will pursue two forms of compensation for you:
- General damages – an award of money for the pain and suffering you have endured as a result of the negligence.
- Special damages – an award of money for all of your out-of-pocket expenses, such as travel expenses, medication costs, loss of earnings, and treatment costs, both past and future. This list is not exhaustive and is very case-specific.
How is my case funded?
The majority of clinical negligence cases are funded by a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), more commonly known as a ‘no-win, no-fee’ agreement. This means that there will be nothing to pay upfront and nothing to pay if the claim is lost. If you are successful in your claim, a deduction of 25% of damages will be taken to cover the success fee and the shortfall in legal fees.
It may also be the case that an After the Event (ATE) insurance policy will be obtained to cover the costs of expensive medical reports and investigations. If an ATE insurance policy has to be obtained, the cost of the same will be discussed with you at the appropriate point. The cost of the ATE insurance policy is again taken from your damages and is only payable if you are successful with your claim.
Why use Oakwood Solicitors Ltd to make your clinical negligence case?
Our dedicated team of solicitors and paralegals brings years of combined experience in clinical negligence. They are highly trained to handle every aspect of your case, giving you confidence in our legal ability.
More importantly, we strive to make the claims process as transparent as possible. We will cut through the legal jargon and complex medical terms, so you understand every step, ensuring you are never overwhelmed.
Further information:
Oakwood Solicitors: Pancreatic Cancer.
Pancreatic Cancer Action.
Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund.
Pancreatic Cancer UK.
WHAT TO DO NEXT
If you have experienced delayed diagnosis, miss diagnosis or maltreatment of your pancreatic cancer, get in touch today for a no-obligation consultation.
Choose one of the methods on the right-hand side of this page or call us on 0113 200 9720 to find out how we can help you.
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Carol Cook joined Oakwood Solicitors in May 2017 to lead the Medical Negligence Department.
Carol handles a wide range of clinical, cosmetic and dental negligence claims and has years of experi…
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