topic Re: Key Pancreatic Cancer Defect Is Identified by UCSF Researchers in Community Chat

Key Pancreatic Cancer Defect Is Identified by UCSF Researchers

NoelSeven — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 23:32:47 GMT

A subject near and dear to my heart, as we have lost three people we dearly loved to this terrible disease.

"...a new UC San Francisco study has shed light on the origins of one type of deadly pancreatic cancer."

UCSF researchers report the identification of a key gene that normally holds tumor development at bay but, when damaged by mutation, allows pancreatic tumors to develop. It is hoped this new finding will lead to earlier and better treatment.

By the time pancreatic cancer is discovered in a patient, it is usually too late. Only about 6 percent of those in the United States who are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer will be alive five years from now.

Pancreatic cancer receives little press but now kills nearly as many as breast cancer. The American Cancer Society estimates that 40,430 will die of breast cancer in 2014, while 39,590 will die of pancreatic cancer.

More information here:

http://www.ucsf.edu/news/2014/03/112216/key-pancreatic-cancer-defect-identified-ucsf-researchers

Re: Key Pancreatic Cancer Defect Is Identified by UCSF Researchers

JuJu Squeezie — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 23:35:00 GMT

Thanks Noel, that's excellent, exciting etc. Anything to shed light on this cancer is wonderful.

Hiya too!

Re: Key Pancreatic Cancer Defect Is Identified by UCSF Researchers

Lila Belle — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 23:36:58 GMT

Re: Key Pancreatic Cancer Defect Is Identified by UCSF Researchers

JaneMarple — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 23:38:35 GMT

Thank you Noel, my mother in law, my sister's husband and my cousin have all died from this cancer. In the case of my MIL and cousin's DH, both were diagnosed in the hospital and died the following week.

Re: Key Pancreatic Cancer Defect Is Identified by UCSF Researchers

NoelSeven — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 23:39:08 GMT

On 3/5/2014 Panda Wrangler said:
Thanks Noel, that's excellent, exciting etc. Anything to shed light on this cancer is wonderful.

Hiya too!

Hi PW

There have also been two breakthroughs which will require further study but promise to help identify pancreatic cancer earlier than the common stage four.

One of those breakthroughs was by an American teenager

Re: Key Pancreatic Cancer Defect Is Identified by UCSF Researchers

JaneMarple — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 23:40:19 GMT

On 3/5/2014 NoelSeven said:
On 3/5/2014 Panda Wrangler said:
Thanks Noel, that's excellent, exciting etc. Anything to shed light on this cancer is wonderful.

Hiya too!

Hi PW

There have also been two breakthroughs which will require further study but promise to help identify pancreatic cancer earlier than the common stage four.

One of those breakthroughs was by an American teenager

I recently read about this too.

Re: Key Pancreatic Cancer Defect Is Identified by UCSF Researchers

NoelSeven — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 23:42:11 GMT

On 3/5/2014 JaneMarple said:
Thank you Noel, my mother in law, my sister's husband and my cousin have all died from this cancer. In the case of my MIL and cousin's DH, both were diagnosed in the hospital and died the following week.

Oh, Jane, I'm so sorry to hear that. It seems to me that pancreatic cancer is on the rise, only because I don't remember hearing a lot about it years ago.

I know there are several kinds of pancreatic cancer, and I feel sure one type at least may have a genetic connection.

Re: Key Pancreatic Cancer Defect Is Identified by UCSF Researchers

PuppyBreath — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 23:43:01 GMT

To me this is good news that is coming at a snail's pace. It will never help my late husband of course, but maybe my grandchildren.

Re: Key Pancreatic Cancer Defect Is Identified by UCSF Researchers

Topaz Gem — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 23:43:40 GMT

This is good news, but it seems that when we make significant strides with one type of cancer, another type rears its ugly head and gains strength. Cancer has taken several in my family as well, so I sincerely hope that doctors and researchers can some day bring this disease to its knees once and for all.

Re: Key Pancreatic Cancer Defect Is Identified by UCSF Researchers

JuJu Squeezie — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 23:44:41 GMT

Thanks Noel, I am so pleased that this deadly cancer is being studied and so hopeful it will be found earlier and treated more specifically. I want people to have a good fighting chance. if not avoid it all together.

Re: Key Pancreatic Cancer Defect Is Identified by UCSF Researchers

JaneMarple — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 23:44:50 GMT

On 3/5/2014 NoelSeven said:
On 3/5/2014 JaneMarple said:
Thank you Noel, my mother in law, my sister's husband and my cousin have all died from this cancer. In the case of my MIL and cousin's DH, both were diagnosed in the hospital and died the following week.

Oh, Jane, I'm so sorry to hear that. It seems to me that pancreatic cancer is on the rise, only because I don't remember hearing a lot about it years ago.

I know there are several kinds of pancreatic cancer, and I feel sure one type at least may have a genetic connection.

I don't know which types any of them hadd but in the case of the two males, they had pain. But my MIL didn't, she just grew weaker by the day and felt constipated all the time. I'm so glad for this breakthrough.

Re: Key Pancreatic Cancer Defect Is Identified by UCSF Researchers

WSfan — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 23:47:42 GMT

Lost my paternal grandmother to this cancer many years ago. The pancreas is located so deep in the abdomen that it is difficult to feel, according to my doctor. Seems like breast cancer is the only type of cancer you hear of that they really push to do fund raising to search for a cure and testing for early diagnosis. There are many other types that need the attention too.

Re: Key Pancreatic Cancer Defect Is Identified by UCSF Researchers

NoelSeven — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 23:48:47 GMT

On 3/5/2014 JaneMarple said:
On 3/5/2014 NoelSeven said:
On 3/5/2014 Panda Wrangler said:
Thanks Noel, that's excellent, exciting etc. Anything to shed light on this cancer is wonderful.

Hiya too!

Hi PW

There have also been two breakthroughs which will require further study but promise to help identify pancreatic cancer earlier than the common stage four.

One of those breakthroughs was by an American teenager

I recently read about this too.

Here we go, Jane! A reference about this amazing kid

Jack Andraka, The Teen Prodigy of Pancreatic Cancer

A high school sophomore won the youth achievement Smithsonian American Ingenuity Award for inventing a new method to detect a lethal cander.

Read more: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/jack-andraka-the-teen-prodigy-of-pancreatic-cancer-135925809/#6DkRZMreU3UmQ7c4.99

Re: Key Pancreatic Cancer Defect Is Identified by UCSF Researchers

NoelSeven — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 23:50:31 GMT

On 3/5/2014 PuppyBreath said:
To me this is good news that is coming at a snail's pace. It will never help my late husband of course, but maybe my grandchildren.

It is a snail's pace, you're right. I'm sorry to hear about the loss of your husband. It's such a terrible disease.

Re: Key Pancreatic Cancer Defect Is Identified by UCSF Researchers

JaneMarple — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 23:52:15 GMT

On 3/5/2014 NoelSeven said:
On 3/5/2014 JaneMarple said:
On 3/5/2014 NoelSeven said:
On 3/5/2014 Panda Wrangler said:
Thanks Noel, that's excellent, exciting etc. Anything to shed light on this cancer is wonderful.

Hiya too!

Hi PW

There have also been two breakthroughs which will require further study but promise to help identify pancreatic cancer earlier than the common stage four.

One of those breakthroughs was by an American teenager

I recently read about this too.

Here we go, Jane! A reference about this amazing kid

Jack Andraka, The Teen Prodigy of Pancreatic Cancer

A high school sophomore won the youth achievement Smithsonian American Ingenuity Award for inventing a new method to detect a lethal cander.

Read more: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/jack-andraka-the-teen-prodigy-of-pancreatic-cancer-135925809/#6DkRZMreU3UmQ7c4.99

Re: Key Pancreatic Cancer Defect Is Identified by UCSF Researchers

NoelSeven — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 23:54:38 GMT

On 3/5/2014 Topaz Gem said:
This is good news, but it seems that when we make significant strides with one type of cancer, another type rears its ugly head and gains strength. Cancer has taken several in my family as well, so I sincerely hope that doctors and researchers can some day bring this disease to its knees once and for all.

I think part of the problem is that there are different causes for cancer, and ITA.

At least we have made wonderful advances in our lifetime in treating leukemia in children, thanks in large part to St. Jude research founded by Danny Thomas.

Re: Key Pancreatic Cancer Defect Is Identified by UCSF Researchers

sunshine45 — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 23:55:05 GMT

i lost a good friend AND her mother several years ago to pancreatic cancer. they died within less than a year of each other. thank you for sharing this information!

Re: Key Pancreatic Cancer Defect Is Identified by UCSF Researchers

scotttie — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 23:55:06 GMT

Noel, thank you for sharing this. I have lost many to cancer. Not pancreatic but cancer all the same.

How have you been doing by the way? Medically?

Re: Key Pancreatic Cancer Defect Is Identified by UCSF Researchers

NoelSeven — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 23:57:17 GMT

On 3/5/2014 WSfan said:
Lost my paternal grandmother to this cancer many years ago. The pancreas is located so deep in the abdomen that it is difficult to feel, according to my doctor. Seems like breast cancer is the only type of cancer you hear of that they really push to do fund raising to search for a cure and testing for early diagnosis. There are many other types that need the attention too.

I'm sorry, WSfan I didn't know until recently that pancreatic cancer kills almost as many as breast cancer. We need funding and research for both.

Re: Key Pancreatic Cancer Defect Is Identified by UCSF Researchers

NoelSeven — Thu, 06 Mar 2014 00:00:46 GMT

On 3/5/2014 sunshine45 said:
i lost a good friend AND her mother several years ago to pancreatic cancer. they died within less than a year of each other. thank you for sharing this information!

sunshine, I am sorry for your loss and understand at least some of your pain. I lost my best friend to it, and just a couple of years later, her child, who I had helped raise.

There has to be a genetic link to at least one form of this deadly disease.