Mortality of Pancreatic Cancer

In general, the mortality of pancreatic cancer depends on factors such as whether the tumor can be removed by surgery, the stage of the cancer, the patient's health, and whether the cancer has just been diagnosed or has recurred. In the United States, from 1998-2002, the age-adjusted mortality of pancreatic cancer was 10.5 per 100,000 men and women per year.

 

Mortality of Pancreatic Cancer: An Introduction

Researchers predicted that 33,730 Americans (17,150 men and 16,580 women) would be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer during 2006. An estimated 32,300 American men and women will die of pancreatic cancer in 2006.
 
In general, the mortality rate (death rate) for a disease will depend on several factors. The mortality of pancreatic cancer depends on factors such as:
 
  • Whether or not the tumor can be removed by pancreatic cancer surgery
  • The stage of pancreatic cancer (the size of the tumor and whether the cancer has spread outside the pancreas to nearby tissues, lymph nodes, or to other places in the body)
  • The patient's general health
  • Whether the cancer has just been diagnosed or has recurred (come back).
 
Pancreatic cancer can be controlled only if it is found before it has spread and only if it can be removed using surgery. If the cancer has spread, palliative treatment can improve the patient's quality of life by controlling the symptoms and complications; however, palliative treatment cannot cure the disease.
 
(Mortality of Pancreatic Cancer Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD