Search Here

The World Health Organization reports that nearly 45,000 Americans are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer each year. Being diagnosed with any type of malignant carcinoma is scary, the prognosis for pancreatic cancer patients is dismal, killing its victims within approximately two years after being diagnosed, with no hope of rehbilitation or cure. Intensive chemotherapy, radiation and surgery only buys a patient about a month of life, one tainted by the pains of treatment.

Therefore, should patients who know their time is limited even undergo treatment?

"It's about balancing quality and quantity of life, really," said Dr. Casey Boyd, a University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston surgery resident and lead author of a paper analyzing this problem in the current issue of Annals of Surgical Oncology.

 "For pancreatic cancer we know the quantity of life is short, so maximizing the quality of life is important - and the best way we can do that is to give patients concrete data that they can look at and use in their treatment decisions."

Boyd and her colleagues looked at two factors that affect the life of pancreatic patients which are hospital stay days and treatment days where they are not inpatients. By drawing on these two factors a physician may assess with a quantitative eye the best course of action for the patient and "use the information in this paper to give patients what they need to make critical decisions."

Boyd explains,

"The physician could say, if you have chemotherapy you may live four to six weeks longer, but a lot of that time you're going to be in the hospital, or getting a test, or getting a needle poked in your arm for your chemotherapy."

And while some patients would want that course and as much life as physicians could give them others, she notes, might make a different choice if given an accurate picture of the treatment experience.

"They may decide not to have any treatment and maybe just have hospice, or just spend time with their family," adds Boyd.

The idea behind the study was to help pancreatic patients make difficult decisions when it comes to treatment options. Until science and medicine awards these patients with a chance to live and fight through the time bomb, all doctors can do is help them spend their time carefully and fully.

Really, this paper is about empowering the patient," says Boyd. "We want to provide them with the information they need to make their own personalized treatment decisions."

If you would like to donate to the fight against pancreatic cancer, visit American Cancer Society or visit PurpleStride NYC to run for the cause.