Jeopardy host Alex Trebek recently announced that he has been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer, but hopes to beat the disease.
Timothy Donahue, MD, chief of surgical oncology at UCLA’s Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center is available to discuss signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer, treatment options and research advancements being made to treat the disease, including immunotherapy.
Dr. Donahue’s research is focused on developing improved treatment strategies and earlier diagnostic markers for patients with pancreatic cancer.
Quotes from Dr. Donahue on advanced pancreatic cancer:
“We’re just starting to make a dent in the prognosis and improve overall survival, but there is still so much more to do.”
On the prognosis:
“Median survival for advanced pancreatic cancer is 12-15 months, but there are some who survive much longer.”
Advice for newly diagnosed:
“Take it one step at a time. It’s important to get treated with state of the art therapy and be treated at a high volume pancreatic cancer center that can offer promising clinical trials.”
On treatment options:
“First, we get the tumor sequenced. Then chemotherapy and potentially immunotherapy.”
On signs and symptoms:
“The symptoms vary depending on where the tumor forms in the pancreas. It the tumor is on the right, a big sign is jaundice. If the tumor is on the left, then people often experience back pain and weight loss.”
Contact Media Relations Manager Denise Heady at 310-206-2805 or [email protected] to schedule an interview with Dr. Donahue.
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