Local Assembly Member Paul Davies has pledged to get on Purple Alert for pancreatic cancer to help transform the lives of people affected by pancreatic cancer in Preseli Pembrokeshire. At a Pancreatic Cancer UK drop-in event at the Welsh parliament, Mr Davies heard that just 7 per cent of people diagnosed with the disease in Wales will survive for five years or more, and that there has been very little improvement in survival since the early 1970s. 80 per cent of people with pancreatic cancer are diagnosed at an advanced stage, when there are very few treatment options and the one potentially life-saving treatment of surgery is not possible. The charity says that unless urgent action is taken now, pancreatic cancer will become the fourth biggest cancer killer by 2026.
Mr Davies said: “I’m pleased to support the purple pancreatic cancer campaign and help raise awareness of such a devastating condition. The most recent figures show that pancreatic cancer took the lives of 64 people in the Hywel Dda University Health Board area in 2015 and so it’s clear that much more work is needed to deliver improvements in its survival rates. Of course, it’s important that pancreatic cancer is a priority for the Welsh Government and I will be doing all that I can to ensure that that’s the case, by raising this issue with Ministers, whenever the opportunity presents itself.”
Diana Jupp, Chief Executive at Pancreatic Cancer UK said: “We’re extremely grateful Paul Davies AM has shown his support by signing our Purple Alert pledge at our drop-in event and learning more about the numbers of people affected by pancreatic cancer in the Hywel Dda University Health Board area.
“Whilst significant improvements have been made in survival for many other cancers, with 50 per cent of all cancer patients now surviving for ten years or more, pancreatic cancer survival has seen little improvement, with just one per cent of patients living beyond ten years. That’s why we are calling on people in Preseli Pembrokeshire to join us in getting on Purple Alert. With their help we can spread the word about pancreatic cancer and raise more funds for research so more people can be diagnosed earlier in the future, as well as offer vital support to patients and families.”
Pancreatic Cancer UK is calling on people to Move It, Bake It, Quiz It, Game It, Style It or Wear It purple to raise funds as part of its Purple Alert campaign. People can find out more at www.pancreaticcancer.org.uk/pcam.