Community members with pancreatic cancer are living longer thanks in part to the research done by Sarah Bush Lincoln Medical Oncologist Abdur Shakir, MD.
Dr. Shakir, medical director of SBL Regional Cancer Center, was recently published in Karger, Case Reports in Oncology. The case study involved a 79-year-old female patient of his with metastatic pancreatic cancer to the lungs and several other health issues.
Pancreatic cancer is the fourth most common cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S. It is predicted that, in 2014, pancreatic cancer will account for approximately 7 percent of all cancer deaths in the U.S. with more than 46,000 new cases being anticipated. The prognosis is particularly poor, with a five-year survival of 6 percent.
The patient in the study chose to fight the cancer. With an aggressive regime, the results were quite favorable and her cancer was rapidly well controlled. She died 11 months after the diagnosis due to her other health issues that were compounded by the treatment.
Dr. Shakir said, “It is promising to know that we can provide people with pancreatic cancer a high quality and longer life with the information we are learning every day from others who are being treated. I have great hope that one day we will conquer this disease.”
For more information about the Sarah Bush Lincoln Regional Cancer Center, call 258-2250 or go to www.sarahbush.org