Posted: July 16, 2010

By Danielle Walker

danielle.walker@insidebiz.com

The fourth deadliest cancer, a "silent killer" due its proclivity to spread before it's diagnosed, has been under the radar in terms of public awareness.

In 2010, the National Cancer Institute estimates there will be 43,140 new cases and 36,800 deaths as a result of the disease - pancreatic cancer.

As a response to the disease's obscurity, the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network was formed in 1999 by Paula Kim, Terry Lierman and Pamela Acosta Marquardt. The three all had a common link: They'd lost family members to the disease.

Currently, the national organization, based in El Segundo, Calif., offers a network where survivors, family members and advocates can act for the cause. One PanCAN accomplishment that has excited local advocates, is a partnership grant with the American Association for Cancer Research, which funds cutting-edge research in pancreatic cancer each year.

On July 1, Dr. Amy Tang became the first local recipient of a Pancreatic Cancer Action Network-AACR grant. Tang is an assistant professor in Eastern Virginia Medical School's department of microbiology and molecular cell biology in Norfolk.

Four $200,000 research grants, provided over a two-year term, were awarded for this year. Tang believes that recent advancements in pancreatic cancer awareness have helped to raise public knowledge.

"It's not a commonly occurring disease, but almost everyone who has it dies," Tang said. She added that "the stigma is dissipating" because awareness has grown through public figures and celebrities affected by pancreatic cancer.

Actor Patrick Swayze, who was diagnosed in 2008 at stage IV, passed away in September 2009 at age 57.

Randy Pausch, who was a computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, authored the best-seller "The Last Lecture" before his 2008 death, brought on by complications from the disease. Pausch is survived by his wife, Jai, and three children who currently live in Chesapeake, where he passed away at home.

Those two well-publicized deaths increased public awareness about pancreatic cancer.

Last Tuesday night, Tang shared her research plans with the PanCAN Tidewater affiliate group. More than 20 attendees gathered at the meeting in Virginia Beach at the Sentara Princess Anne health complex. Meetings are held there on the second Tuesday of every month.

Tang's two-year research plan is to determine whether the protein SIAH is the "Achilles heel" of pancreatic cancer.

Tang hopes that future studies and trials focusing on SIAH can offer further understanding about pancreatic tumor development - and how we can stop the spread.

As far as risk factors go, obesity, smoking and diabetes can increase the risk of pancreatic cancer. Recurring pancreatitis is another risk factor, Tang said. And while the disease is "not entirely genetic," there are hereditary markers that haven't been clearly established within the medical community.

Symptoms of pancreatic cancer include jaundice, stomach pain and weight loss. Tang suggested patients with symptoms seek a second opinion if they have doubts about a diagnosis. Since pancreatic cancer is often not spotted until its later stages, patients must use their intuition and be proactive about getting answers that make sense, Tang said.

"Don't feel bad to ask for a second opinion," she said. "Shamelessly go out for (that) second opinion."

Attendees at the meeting included community members, many of whom had lost loved ones to pancreatic cancer, or had battled the disease themselves. Ellen Zeltmann, coordinator of the Tidewater affiliate for PanCAN, explained the importance of the grant as an opportunity for local cancer patients and family members to be involved in future research.

"We're excited to have a doctor in Virginia who's on our side," said Zeltmann about Tang. "We're one of hundreds of groups around the country that support awareness about pancreatic cancer."

On June 21 and 22, group members went to Washington, D.C., for PanCAN's Advocacy Day, to talk to Congress about raising awareness.

On June 19, some local PanCAN advocates participated in PurpleStride in Washington, D.C., where thousands joined a 5K walk for pancreatic cancer. PurpleStride walks are also held in other cities throughout the nation.

Locally, Tidewater PanCAN is working to put on a "Purple Bowl" fundraising event and a "Purple Light" candlelight vigil, which the group wants to coordinate across the country. Both events are expected to occur in November. nib