Local 12 highlights Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month
Pancreatic cancer diagnoses are increasing more rapidly than any other cancer type while remaining one of the most deadly cancers.
The American Cancer Society estimates approximately 64,000 Americans will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer this year, and approximately 50,500 people in the U.S. will die of pancreatic cancer in 2023. While currently the third-leading cause of cancer death in the United States, pancreatic cancer is expected to become the second-leading cause of cancer death by 2030, highlighting the need for new and innovative treatments.
During Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month in November, the University of Cincinnati's Andrew Waters, PhD, joined Local 12's What's Happening in Health program to discuss the state of pancreatic cancer research.
"Now what I'm working on, there's been milestone advancements, and we have these drugs that are going through clinical trials here in the Cincinnati area," said Waters, University of Cincinnati Cancer Center researcher and assistant professor in the UC College of Medicine’s Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology and Department of Cancer Biology. "And what I'm trying to understand is how these cells when treated with this drug kind of adapt and develop resistance to the drug. Because we know it's going to be combination therapies that are necessary to really extend the lives of pancreatic cancer patients and the efficacy of this new class of drugs in the clinic."
Waters was joined by volunteers from the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, who raise funds to support research, including at the Cancer Center.
"Finding this disease early, if possible, will really help increase the odds. Your chance of survival goes up from 12% for five-year survival to 33% if you can find the disease early,” said Sherry Holcomb, mission chair of the local chapter of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.
Watch or read the Local 12 story.
Read more about Waters' research.
Featured photo at top: Researchers Krushna Patra, Andrew Waters and Patrick Krause review data. Photo/Andrew Higley/UC Marketing + Brand.
Related Stories
Mural by UC grad honors U.S. military history
July 17, 2024
Local 12 highlighted a new mural by University of Cincinnati graduate and artist Brandon Hawkins that pays tribute to U.S. military history.
Social media fuels extreme political rhetoric
July 17, 2024
UC College of Arts and Sciences Professor Jeffrey Blevins tells Local 12 that online algorithms fuel political polarization on social media.
Camp aims to empower children, teens who stutter
July 17, 2024
A one-week, evidence-based program for children and teens who stutter at the University of Cincinnati will teach kids to communicate effectively, advocate for themselves and develop confidence about their communication abilities. Camp Dream. Speak. Live., which is coming to Cincinnati for the first time July 22-26, began in 2014 at the University of Texas at Austin. The Arthur M. Blank Center for Stuttering Education and Research at UT expects to serve more than 2,000 children at camps across the United States, Africa, Asia and Europe this year.
UC Blue Ash takes next step in major renovation project
July 17, 2024
Muntz Hall, the flagship building on the University of Cincinnati Blue Ash College campus, is in the next phase of a major renovation project that will dramatically transform the main entrance, enhance access to student support services and add new spaces for students to study or meet between classes.
UC archivist explores Troy’s invisible workers
July 17, 2024
UC Classics archivist Jeff Kramer examined the unheralded and largely uncredited role laborers played in the 1930s excavation at Troy in Turkey.
From intern to full-time: Recent Lighting Design grad joins Bandit Lites
July 16, 2024
Lighting & Sound America spotlights recent graduate Riley Rowan's new position at Bandit Lites, a full-service design, management and producer of live events and entertainment.
CCM alum Donald Lawrence to be inducted into Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame
July 16, 2024
UC College-Conservatory of Music alumnus Donald Lawrence is part of the 2024 class of Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame inductees. Located at the Banks in downtown Cincinnati, the induction ceremony on July 27 will feature a parade of stars and a free concert by the Zapp Band.
U.S. stroke survival is improving, but race still plays role
July 16, 2024
U.S. News & World Report, HealthDay and Real Health covered new research from the University of Cincinnati that found overall rates of long-term survival following stroke are improving, but Black individuals experience worse long-term outcomes compared to white individuals.
Collaborative pianist and vocal coach Kirill Kuzmin joins CCM’s faculty
July 16, 2024
UC College-Conservatory of Music Interim Dean Jonathan Kregor has announced the addition of Kirill Kuzmin to the college’s faculty of distinguished performing and media arts experts, researchers and educators. A Grammy-nominated collaborative pianist and vocal coach, Kuzmin begins his new role as Associate Professor of Opera/Vocal Coaching on Aug. 15, 2024.
My incredible first year at Cincinnati Law: Journey, reflections and highlights
July 16, 2024
Dean Haider Ala Hamoudi gives a progress report on his first year as dean of the College of Law.