46 THE QUEENS COURIER • HEALTH • JULY 6, 2017 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
health
Pancreatic cancer: Know your family, know your risk
Pancreatic cancer is one of the most
deadly cancers, with a mere 29 percent
one-year survival rate. In 2016, pancreatic
cancer became the third leading cause
of cancer death in the United States, surpassing
breast cancer.
Th e time frame between diagnosis and
death is oft en short. Only 7 percent of
people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer
survive fi ve years. Th is is incredibly
small compared to prostate cancer or
breast cancer, where more than 90 percent
of patients survive for fi ve years aft er
diagnosis.
“Most people are unaware of how deadly
pancreatic cancer is,” says Jim Rolfe,
president of Rolfe Pancreatic Cancer
Foundation. “Th ese chilling statistics can
serve as an eye-opener that motivates
people to learn more about their risks and
contact their health care professional.”
Early detection is important
Although pancreatic cancer is one of
the most deadly cancers, early detection
can signifi cantly impact survival rates.
Th e fi ve-year survival rate for pancreatic
cancer approaches 25 percent if cancers
are surgically removed while they
are still small and have not spread to the
lymph nodes.
Know your family,
know your risk
Family history is a risk factor for pancreatic
cancer. When you know more
about your genetics and which members
of your family have been aff ected by pancreatic
cancer, you can better manage
your own health.
To make the process easier, the Rolfe
Pancreatic Cancer Foundation has
introduced a new series of online tools.
Visit www.KnowMyRisk.org to download
a worksheet and access other helpful
tools that let you explore your family
history and become your own health
advocate.
Print out the worksheet and call or visit
your grandparents, parents and other
extended family members. You may not
be aware that someone a few generations
removed from you was aff ected by cancer.
Having this conversation can be empowering,
because once you know your risks
you can take charge of your future.
Consider genetic counseling
When considering how personal a cancer
or disease diagnosis can be, it is no
surprise that medicine is looking at our
DNA to uncover information. Th is makes
genetic counselors an important part of
the health care team, helping you ask
the right questions and uncover familial
genetic risk factors.
If you learn you have a history of pancreatic
cancer in multiple family members,
you should consider meeting with
a genetic counselor to assess your level of
risk. From there, the counselor and your
doctor can decide on a course of action.
To learn more about genetic counseling
and fi nd a local certifi ed genetic
counselor at the National Society of
Genetic Counselors’ database, visit www.
KnowMyRisk.org.
Take charge and be empowered
“Don’t take a backseat when it comes
to your health,” says Rolfe. “Th e fi rst
step toward early detection of pancreatic
cancer is understanding your family
history. From there, you can make
informed decisions that help you live a
full, healthy life.”
Courtesy BPT
