BRINGING AWARENESS TO PANCREAS DISEASE
November is Pancreas Disease Awareness Month. All month we have been sharing information about the pancreas, videos of patient stories, information on NPF resources for those diagnosed with pancreas disease, and much more.
Let's start with the basics, so we understand WHY education and advocacy of this disease is so important:
*The pancreas is an organ in the upper abdomen. It is approximately 6 inches long and is located behind the stomach.
*The pancreas has 2 main functions:
1. It makes enzymes, which help digest proteins, fats, and carbohydrates before they can be absorbed in the intestine.
2. It makes hormones (chemicals made from glands), the most important of which is insulin, which controls how the body uses and stores sugar (glucose), its main source of energy.
- About 56,770 people (29,940 men and 26,830 women) will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
- About 45,750 people (23,800 men and 21,950 women) will die of pancreatic cancer.
- The 5-year survival rate is only 9%.
To learn more about the pancreas, pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, surgery options, nutrition info, please also check out our
Animated Pancreas Patient
.
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PATIENT AND SUPPORTER STORIES
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Each week in the month of November, as part of the Pancreas Disease Month, we will be sharing patient, caregiver, and supporter stories of pancreatitis, pediatric pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. Please follow the NPF on Facebook and YouTube to see the latest videos. Just search for the National Pancreas Foundation and subscribe today!
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Adam Barbosa - Pancreatitis and TPIAT
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Heather Gleaton - A Caregivers Perspective
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Dave Hughes - Pancreatitis
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Matt Greiner - Ruck Pancreatitis
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Education and advocacy are part of the National Pancreas Foundation's (NPF) mission. Please see the list of events that are coming up throughout the year. We hope you are able to join us! For a complete list, please see our
Events Page
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PATIENT EDUCATION EVENTS
Texas Chapter Education Event | San Antonio, TX December 7th | Time: 8:30 am – 12:30 pm.
Venue: University Hospital - University Health System, 4502 Medical Dr., San Antonio, TX 78229.
*Save the date! More details to follow.
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SUPPORT GROUPS
If you would like to establish a support group in your city, please contact National Chapter Manager, Patrick Salami at psalami@pancreasfoundation.org.
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CHAPTER EVENTS
- Strike - Out Pancreas Disease MA Chapter | Shrewsbury, MA | November 3, 2019
- Strike-Out Pancreas Disease Central PA Chapter | Carlisle, PA | November 10, 2019
- Party for a Cure - Boston | Boston, MA | November 13, 2019
- Strike-Out Pancreas Disease Minnesota Chapter | November 16, 2019
- Party for a Cure - NYC | New York, NY | November 21, 2019
- Strike - Out Pancreas Disease MA Chapter | Dedham, MA | March 8, 2020
*Save the date! More details to follow.
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Please consider the National Pancreas Foundation as your charity of choice when shopping through Amazon Smiles!
The AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price of eligible products to the charitable organization of your choice.
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Have you subscribed to the National Pancreas Foundation YouTube Channel? You should! On this channel, you will find videos from physicians regarding pancreatitis (acute, chronic, pediatric, pancreatic cancer), nutrition, pain management, surgery information, innovation for pancreatic cancer, pancreatic cysts, plus other topics (opening a GI Clinic in Rwanda!). Click on the logo above to subscribe and be updated on new videos!
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The Jamison Family - Pediatric Pancreatitis
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Cecilia Petricone - Post TPIAT | Day in the Life of a Diabetic
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USING THE ANIMATED PANCREAS PATIENT AS AN ADVOCACY RESOURCE
Having pancreas disease can be very overwhelming. Especially if you have pancreatitis, a rare disease that many have never heard of or know about.
A priority for patients/caregivers should be knowledge, so it allows you to be your own advocate in making decisions that is right for you. The NPF created the Animated Pancreas Patient for this very reason. Learn about acute, chronic, pediatric pancreatitis; pancreatic cancer; surgery options; nutrition information; and much more!
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In 2019, the National Pancreas Foundation:
*Held 16 patient, family and caregiver education symposiums with a total of over 250 people attending.
* Responded to 700 inquiries from distressed patients and loved-ones.
*Funded 121 (since 1997) research studies into the disease to find new and better therapies.
*Convened over 350 hours of peer support group sessions.
*Held the 14th Annual Fellows Symposium, a weekend for young physicians to learn about pancreas disease.
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