Apr 19, 2024 - By Paula Mukherjee Editor’s note: During Volunteer Appreciation Week 2024 (April 21 – 27), three members of PanCAN’s Volunteer Advisory Council, Janice Griffin, Joelle Hervis, and Tripp Razor, spoke with Community Engagement Senior Specialist Paula Mukherjee about serving as liaisons between PanCAN and the volunteer affiliate network. This interview has been edited for clarity and length. Paula: How would you describe your role as a Volunteer Advisory Council (VAC) member?  Joelle: We connect the volunteers to PanCAN and vice versa. It’s a way for volunteers to get their f ..read more

Apr 12, 2024 - By Carly Eskin PanCAN PurpleStride, the ultimate walk to end pancreatic cancer, takes place during the day on Saturday, April 27, but there may be some stars out! Along with survivors, caregivers, researchers and others, celebrities who have been affected by pancreatic cancer will also be taking steps at PanCAN’s biggest fundraising event of the year, PurpleStride. Hope will shine bright when we all come together in solidarity to raise awareness and funds to help those with pancreatic cancer. Who Will Be Attending and Where? This year, PanCAN announced an impressive lineup of c ..read more

Apr 8, 2024 - By Carly Eskin “PanCAN is an amazing organization,” says PanCAN Board member Lisa Kulok, “not only for the work they do, but because of the people.” One of those people is PanCAN Patient Services Case Manager Karina Gutierrez. She is the fourth recipient of the Carol Kulok Award for Compassion, an award given annually to a member of the PanCAN Patient Services team who has gone above and beyond in service to patients and their caregivers. Lisa worked with PanCAN to establish the award to honor her mom, Carol Kulok, who passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2016. “This ..read more

Apr 4, 2024 - By Carly Eskin The pancreatic cancer community stands at a critical juncture in the fight against pancreatic cancer, and your dedication has been instrumental in propelling us forward. As we embark on the next phase of our advocacy journey, we are filled with gratitude for your unwavering support and commitment to our cause. Over the past year, your advocacy efforts have yielded remarkable results. Thanks to your voices echoing through the halls of Congress, we secured $15 million in dedicated funding for pancreatic cancer research. This achievement stands as a testament to the ..read more

Mar 25, 2024 - By Erin Post Through the SPARK health data platform, PanCAN breaks down barriers to pancreatic cancer research by making real-world patient data accessible and easy-to-use for scientists across the country. This important work is making a difference: Two recent publications highlight how SPARK stands to accelerate progress on new treatments and improve patient outcomes. The stakes couldn’t be higher, said PanCAN Chief Science Officer Lynn Matrisian, PhD, MBA. Right now, pancreatic cancer is the third-leading cause of cancer-related death and it’s on track to become the second b ..read more

Mar 14, 2024 - By Erin Post A new podcast series aims to educate primary care providers about the risk factors and symptoms that often come before a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. The goal for the podcast, called “The First Line of Defense: Primary Care Clinicians and Early Detection of Pancreatic Cancer,” is to offer continuing education to healthcare professionals so that they can detect the disease earlier, giving patients an improved chance at survival. Barbara Kenner, PhD, a member of PanCAN’s Board of Directors and founder of Kenner Family Research Fund, calls this group of clinicians ..read more

Mar 13, 2024 - By Erin Post Making the healthiest choices possible to maintain good nutrition can help patients with pancreatic cancer minimize the side effects of treatment, recover from surgery and maintain the best quality of life possible. By working with a dietitian, patients can create a nutrition plan that works best for them and their specific needs, whether it’s during treatment or as part of a long-term strategy to maintain health. Not only are these health professionals up to date on the most recent research, they provide important support and guidance to family and caregivers as t ..read more

Feb 22, 2024 - By Erin Post PanCAN’s new Health Equity Committee brings together a diverse group focused on one goal: advancing health equity for all those impacted by pancreatic cancer. It’s a complex undertaking, but one that is vital to PanCAN’s mission. Here are just a few members of the group and what motivates them in the work they are doing. Empowering Patients With Knowledge As a licensed and certified genetic counselor at Emory Winship Cancer Institute in Atlanta, Fabienne Ehivet, MS, CGC, talks with patients about how genetic risk factors may affect them or their families. Fabienne ..read more

Feb 15, 2024 - By Erin Post Black Americans are more likely to be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer than any other racial/ethnic group in the United States. And although we have seen improvements in overall survival for pancreatic cancer, the age-adjusted mortality rate from pancreatic cancer for Black Americans is higher than it is for the white population, according to the American Cancer Society. Although many complex factors contribute to these disparities, the goal is to learn more as well as educate and empower people who face significant barriers to care many others take for granted. Pa ..read more

Feb 13, 2024 - By Erin Post For the first time in more than a decade, the FDA has approved a new first-line treatment for patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer. After a clinical trial showed a positive survival benefit, the combination chemotherapy called NALIRIFOX is now approved for patients who have not received any previous treatment. For a disease with limited treatment options, today’s FDA announcement is exciting news. “We are pleased that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued this new approval of the NALIRIFOX regimen. With each new approved treatment, there is more ho ..read more