PANCREATIC CANCER PROGNOSIS

The disease is often fatal. Once diagnosed with this cancer, 95% of patients will die within five years. More than 80% of the patients will not survive the first year after initial diagnosis. The poor prognosis is because of late diagnosis; the pancreas is a small gland located deep within the abdominal cavity, and, hence, cannot be seen or felt during routine physical examination. There are no early symptoms, and by the time the symptoms are manifested, the cancer has already spread to other organs and is in an advanced stage. Doctors and researchers are working hard to find new methods of diagnosing pancreatic cancer before it spreads.