WWW.QNS.COM RIDGEWOOD TIMES JULY 6, 2017 17
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.
The time frame between diagnosis
and death is oft en short. Only 7
percent of people diagnosed with
pancreatic cancer survive fi ve years.
This 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. "These 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. The 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. This
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. "The 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
HEALTH
