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Let’s start by wishing all of you a relaxing and enjoyable festive season and a healthy and prosperous New Year. Hopefully, 2025 will be a good year for all of us. Many thanks to all of you for your support in 2024.
This is Ralph as Frankenstein in the film ”The Horror of Frankenstein” (1970).
Ralph died in 1991, just 10 weeks after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
Some harsh facts*;
*With acknowledgements to Cancer Research UK.
- There are approximately 10,800 new cases of pancreatic cancer in the UK every year. That’s around 30 a day! Frightening!
- Since the early 1990s, the incident rate for pancreatic cancer in the UK has increased by roughly 18%. Staggering!
- In the last 10 years, the incident rate has increased by 8%. Worrying!
- Around 9,600 sufferers die of pancreatic cancer in the UK every year. That’s about 26 people every day. Frightening!
- Pancreatic cancer is the fifth most common cause of cancer death in the UK, about 6% of all cancer deaths.
- Pancreatic cancer survival rates has not shown much improvement in the last 50 years in the UK. In the 1970s, only 1.3% of pancreatic cancer sufferers survived beyond 10 years. In the 2010s, it was still only 1.1%.
We don’t apologise for starting this Newsletter with such stark statistics, as it’s important that research Funds like ours, have enough financial resource to enable their important research work to continue. It would be a great pity if all the research work that has been carried out in the UK over the last 30 to 40 years was lost because of lack of funding. Cost of living increases and other pressures on family finances have without doubt led to a reduction in donations to all charities and this is perfectly understandable. We value all donations to our Fund and each one will be acknowledged. We like to think of our donors as being part of the “Ralph Bates Fund family” and even a donation of £2 per month adds up to £30 a year after Gift Aid.
Although our researchers concentrate on pancreatic cancer, their work can also assist research into other cancers, as something which might not work on one cancer, might on another and vice-versa. It’s a collaboration, not a race!
Research Update
Our committed research team in our laboratory at St George’s Hospital have continued their important work. Androulla, our lead Researcher and Jack, her number 2, report that;
“Over the past year, we have been investigating several promising new drugs for pancreatic cancer in a laboratory setting. We have examined the effects of these drugs both on their own and in combination with existing treatments, aiming for stronger outcomes. Early results are encouraging, particularly with some combinations showing a potential “synergistic” effect—where the combined treatment works better than each drug alone.
To better understand why these effects are happening, we’ve begun studying the specific ways these treatments influence cancer cell behaviour. For example, our motility (cell movement) tests have shown how these drugs affect cancer cell movement, offering clues about the drugs’ mechanisms.
To truly understand how these drugs act on pancreatic cancer, we are now focusing on what happens inside the cells themselves. By pinpointing how these drugs interact with the biochemical molecules within cancer cells, we’ll gain vital insights to guide future studies and take a step closer towards identifying more effective treatments for pancreatic cancer”.
It’s difficult to quote more details about the research or the results as all research teams must protect their discoveries. Androulla and Jack are keen to translate their research work to a drug which can help sufferers and are hopeful of being able to publish a paper shortly detailing their work.
Donations Update
Making it easier to make a donation.
We’ve added some useful facilities to our website to make it easier to donate to our Fund.
By copying the QR code on the right or reading it on your mobile or other device, you will be taken straight through to our Justgiving donation page.
Donations to our Fund can now be made via Paypal. You don’t have to have a Paypal account to donate to our Fund. Here’s the QR code. Read it with your device and you’ll be straight through to Paypal!
We’re now registered with easyfundraising, which means you can help us raise donations for FREE. Over 7,000 brands are registered with easyfundraising and those brands will donate to us when you use easyfundraising to shop with them – at no extra cost to yourself! All you need to do is sign up and use easyfundraising whenever you shop online. If you’re shopping online at Sainsbury’s (for example) first of all go to easyfundraising, then click on Sainsbury’s and carry out your shopping as normal. Our Fund will receive a donation from Sainsbury’s which will cost you nothing and you will get your food as usual! Here’s the QR code- just read it with your mobile or other device and you’ll be donating to us for free!
What is Pancreatic Cancer?
It’s some time since we re-published our “What is Pancreatic Cancer” leaflet. It pays to be vigilant and if being forewarned helps you or someone you know, then that’s great. So, what is it? A particularly nasty, debilitating and aggressive cancer, which does not discriminate between sex or age. It can hit anyone at any time.
Where is the pancreas within the abdomen?
This diagram shows the position of the pancreas (dark blue) and the surrounding organs. It’s about 6 inches long and located at the back of the stomach (light blue), with the top more or less in line with the bottom of the breastbone.
Looks pretty here, doesn’t it? It may kill you if it becomes cancerous.
What does it do?
The pancreas produces enzymes – digestive juices- which are secreted into the small intestine to break down food even further after it has left the stomach. It also produces insulin and secretes it into the bloodstream to help regulate glucose (sugar) levels.
Insulin is secreted in response to a rise in blood sugar and it moves glucose from the blood into muscles and other tissues to provide energy. It also helps the liver absorb glucose, storing it in case the body needs energy during stress or exercise. Why do I need one?
An unhealthy pancreas can stop you getting the most benefit from your food, which can lead to weight loss and diarrhoea and there is a real increased risk of unexpected diabetes as the result of insufficient insulin being produced. That’s why you need a healthy pancreas.
What are the symptoms?
It’s difficult to generalise, but if you or someone you know has any of these symptoms, it’s essential to see a doctor – pronto! Early diagnosis could make all the difference as it’s essential to catch this monster early.
- Yellow skin or eyes and/or itchy skin. This is called “jaundice”.
- Unexplained weight loss.
- Tummy pain, especially at the top of the abdomen, which may radiate to the back, or unexplained mid-back pain.
- Bowel changes such as oily, floating faeces (stools).
And remember – pancreatic cancer doesn’t discriminate between sexes and doesn’t care how old you are.
