(BlackDoctor.org) — Steve Jobs’ death has instantaneously raised the public’s awareness of pancreatic cancer.
Other notables have lost the battle against pancreatic cancer, including Patrick Swayze in 2009, legendary saxophonist James Moody last year, and former civil rights leader Reverend James Bevel this year. It was once rumored that Aretha Franklin suffered from pancreatic cancer before she publicly debunked the claims.
However, now pancreatic cancer has the world’s ear.
The survival rate of pancreatic cancer is dismal to begin with. Only 1 of 4 people with pancreatic cancer survive one year past diagnosis. Five years out, only 1 of every 20 are still alive. And, the black community is harder hit.
Black men and women are more likely to develop this relatively rare cancer than other groups, with black men having the worst survival rate (Surprisingly, for unknown reasons, the survival rate of black women is the same as white men and women).
Despite its impact, few have ever heard about the disease prior to Jobs’ death. So, here’s the low-down on this not so often discussed condition.
Who gets pancreatic cancer?
Last year, over 40,000 Americans were diagnosed with cancer of the pancreas. In the same year, nearly 37,000 died. The average age at time of diagnosis is 72.
What does the pancreas do?
The pancreas plays two key roles: one is to produce juices to help digest or break down food, and the other is to help control blood sugar. Type 1 or juvenile diabetes – different from adult diabetes – develops when the pancreas does not function properly.
For the complete article, visit The Grio.Com. To learn more about cancer prevention, visit the BDO Cancer Channel.
