Introduction

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most deadly cancers, yet it has one of the lowest survival rates. The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PCAN) is leading the fight against pancreatic cancer by funding research for better treatments and ultimately a cure.

What is pancreatic cancer?

Pancreatic cancer is a malignant tumor that begins in the pancreas, which is an organ located behind your stomach and on the right side of your abdomen. The pancreas secretes digestive enzymes and hormones into your bloodstream to help with digestion.

The pancreatic cancer cells can spread (metastasize) to other organs such as the liver or lungs, causing tumors there.

Pancreatic cancer is not common but it’s one of the most serious types of cancer because it usually doesn’t respond well to treatment and often recurs after surgery or chemotherapy. It can be fatal if left untreated but it can also be cured if caught early enough or treated successfully with surgery or chemotherapy

The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network’s Research Strategy

The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) is committed to funding research that will yield a cure for pancreatic cancer. In this section, you’ll find more information on the importance of research and its role in finding a cure for pancreatic cancer, as well as detailed descriptions of five specific types of research: clinical, translational, early stage, basic science and basic science translational.

We know that research can take time – but we also know it’s critical for our mission at PanCAN to support researchers who are working every day toward a cure by providing funding for their work.

About the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network

The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness, funding research and providing support for those affected by pancreatic cancer.

In 1999, PanCAN was founded by three mothers whose loved ones had died from the disease: Nancy Giger, Cyndi Zumwalt and Mary Beth Klatt. In 2000, these women officially incorporated PanCAN as an IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) charitable organization with the mission of “advancing a cure for pancreatic cancer through research and community outreach.”

Since its inception, PanCAN has been working tirelessly to increase public awareness about this deadly disease—and it’s paying off. Since 2000 alone, there have been notable breakthroughs in early detection methods and treatments that have led to significant improvements in patient survival rates (the five-year survival rate is now around 20%).

PCAN Research Grants

PCAN Research Grants

PCAN research grants are awarded based on scientific merit and are intended to support researchers at the forefront of pancreatic cancer research at all stages of their career. Grants are also awarded to researchers at all levels of training. The goal is for PCAN’s funding program to help bring new ideas and perspective into the field, as well as provide an opportunity for early-career scientists to establish themselves in this area.

Important Patient Support Programs Funded by PCAN’s Research Program

The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PCAN) is funding research to find a cure for pancreatic cancer. This year, PCAN’s Research Program has funded nearly $20 million in pancreatic cancer research grants and programs.

The following are examples of programs supported by PCAN’s Research Program:

• The Patient Experience in Cancer Care Center at Mount Sinai Health System received funding to develop a program that provides support services to people with advanced stages of pancreatic cancer. The goal is to improve their quality of life while they undergo treatment and help them access financial assistance through PCAN’s Patient Financial Assistance Fund (PFAF).
• The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center received an award toward the creation of an online database that will track information about patient-reported outcomes following surgery or endoscopic procedures for early stage malignancies so doctors can better understand how these treatments impact patients’ lives over time.

The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network is funding research to find a cure for pancreatic cancer.

The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network is funding research to find a cure for pancreatic cancer. PCAN is the leading national organization funding pancreatic cancer research and providing help to those affected by this devastating disease.

We are committed to saving lives by helping people understand their risk, get diagnosed and treated early, support advances in treatment, help patients live well with the disease, and find a cure through groundbreaking medical research.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for a pancreatic cancer research resource, PCAN is the place to go. They have an extensive database of information on this disease and its treatment options, and they have funded over $120 million worth of research since their inception in 1991. They also offer many programs that support patients with this condition so that they can live as normal lives as possible while going through treatment or waiting for a cure.