One day after singerLizzo declared that she’d “made it”after being an answer onJeopardy!, the show’s longtime host Alex Trebek, 79, has launched a new public service announcement to help raise awareness for pancreatic cancer — a disease he was diagnosed with last March.
“I wished I had known sooner that the persistent stomach pain I experienced before my diagnosis was a symptom of pancreatic cancer,” Trebek says in the announcement, adding that other common symptoms include “mid-back pain, unexplained weight loss and the yellowing of the skin or eyes.”
Alex Trebek.Ramona Rosales
According to the organization’s release, the reason it has the lowest survival rate among all major cancers is because so few people know the risks and symptoms, and are thus diagnosed at an advanced stage. Each day, more than 1,284 people worldwide die from the disease, and better progress starts with early detection — the problem is, many of the symptoms can be vague and incorrectly attributed to less serious conditions.
According to the organization, because there is still no screening test for pancreatic cancer, if you are experiencing one or more of the above persistent symptoms that Trebek mentions, you should absolutely mention pancreatic cancer to your healthcare provider, because “patients diagnosed at an earlier stage when surgery is an option are more likely to live five years and beyond.”
“On World Pancreatic Cancer Day, we unite as a global movement to advocate for early detection and better outcomes for pancreatic cancer patients,” said Julie Fleshman, JD, MBA, WPCC chair. “By raising awareness of pancreatic cancer risks and symptoms, we hope that people will be aware and alert their doctor sooner when there is more opportunity for intervention.”
“Together, we can get it done,” says Trebek.
Go toworldpancreaticcancerday.orgfor more information, useful resources and links to pancreatic cancer organizations in your country/region.
source: people.com
