Rotary Club of Belfast

Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund

Susan Cooke

The Club welcomed Monday 22 September speaker Susan Cooke founder of Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund NI accompanied by Alana Irvine, a work colleague at Four Seasons Heathcare.

Cancer Research NI is the national charity dedicated exclusively to supporting research to improve diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer and was a major recipient from the funds raised by Club Vice President Ivan's marathons over the last two years.

The charity was founded in London April 2004 by Maggie Blanks, following the death of her husband Alan from the disease. She discovered that survival rates for pancreatic cancer had barely improved in forty years and that little research was being undertaken and was determined to encourage more research that was targeted specifically at the disease. Pancreatic cancer has the lowest survival rate of all cancers – just 3% of those diagnosed survive for five years. It is also the only cancer that has seen no improvement in this figure over the last 40 years whereas for many other cancers (which have had large amounts spent on research) five year survival rates have increased hugely since the 1970s. 40 years ago few children survived childhood leukaemia - now the survival rate is 80%; 40 years ago only 46% of woman diagnosed with breast cancer survived 5 years or more - now that figure is 80%; 40 years ago 3% of people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer survived 5 years or more - that figure is still 3%.....

Ivan McMInn and SpeakersSusan, a volunteer, movingly explained that she set up her NI voluntary group in February after the death of her husband who was 45 when he died, just 11 weeks after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He could receive no treatment as it had already spread to his liver. She noted it was very hard to accept that such a fit man could die so quickly, and even more shocking to know there is no effective treatment. Which is why, she stated, the work of the Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund is so important as the charity funds world leading research to find an early diagnosis tool and hopefully, eventually, a cure.

Her group of fundraising volunteers is expanding rapidly but needs support. They have raised £65,000 and their main fundraiser this year is a dinner dance 8 November. She thanked Ivan for his great support.

Answering questions she noted that Pancreatic cancer is sometimes called a 'silent cancer' because there are generally few symptoms in the early stages, and those that are present can be non-specific and vague. Common symptoms can include: painless jaundice and new onset of abdominal discomfort and back pain. However these symptoms can have multiple other causes and there is not yet a reliable diagnostic test for pancreatic cancer. She pointed out that out of 1200 GPs in NI only 56 had completed a free e-learning module.

Picture shows Susan Cooke and Alana Irvine with Hon Treasurer Ivan McMinn (seated).

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