Our new campaign – Unite. Diagnose. Save Lives. – highlights the urgent need for governments to do more to make early detection of pancreatic cancer a reality.
Unlike other cancers, right now, early diagnosis is nearly impossible. Something is Missing – a simple test to detect pancreatic cancer early.
We’ve teamed up Jon Holmes, comedian, writer and broadcaster – the genius behind BBC Radio 4’s The Skewer, to raise awareness amongst the public. Jon also created Lost Voices in 2021, again to help us raise awareness of pancreatic cancer and the urgent need for progress. We’ve also had the kind support of our ambassador Olivia Williams, who provides the voiceover in the film.
‘Something is Missing’ features much-loved celebrities including Patrick Swayze, Aretha Franklin and Alan Rickman, and highlights that 797 people die each month from pancreatic cancer in the UK. These famous faces are removed from iconic moments in entertainment history to symbolise the impact of what’s still missing – a simple, early detection test that would help save thousands of lives from the disease.
By removing famous actors who’ve died from the disease from their famous scenes in their famous films I hope we can draw attention to what else is missing: a simple test to detect pancreatic cancer early.
Jon Holmes said: “The film has a simple premise. People are missing from our lives because of pancreatic cancer – the deadliest common cancer. By removing famous actors who’ve died from the disease from their famous scenes in their famous films I hope we can draw attention to what else is missing: a simple test to detect pancreatic cancer early.”
Right now, the brutal reality is that diagnosis comes far too late for most and families are left with only hope to hold on to. But the disease must be detected sooner.
And it can be. Early diagnosis is the key to survival and thanks to research breakthroughs, a test to detect pancreatic cancer is within reach. It would save thousands of lives every year.
We’re calling on governments to do more to make this a reality. More drive, more investment, more attention. So, we can give people with pancreatic cancer more than hope.
It’s time to unite, diagnose and save lives.
Diana Jupp said: “Right now, it is nearly impossible for GPs to diagnose pancreatic cancer in time to save people. The vital early detection tests they need are missing because research into this devastating disease has been vastly underfunded by successive governments. Thousands of families feel the heartbreaking consequences of this lack of action every year. Unlike other cancers where incredible strides have been made, people affected pancreatic cancer are all too often left with only hope to hold on to.
“Change is possible – we have made more progress in the last five years than in the last 50 combined. But, to make early detection a reality governments must do more. We need more drive, more investment, more attention devoted to the deadliest common cancer. Please sign our open letter. It’s time to unite, diagnose and save lives.”
To make early detection a reality governments must do more. We need more drive, more investment, more attention devoted to the deadliest common cancer.
As a charity, we’re funding research that could put a test to detect pancreatic cancer into the hands of GPs across the country.
For example, in a world-first for the disease, a research team at Imperial College London led by Professor George Hanna are studying how breath samples taken in a GP surgery could ensure people with early pancreatic cancer symptoms, which are often mistaken for other less serious health conditions, can instead be rapidly referred for scans and lifesaving treatment, if needed.
Tests like these could transform early diagnosis for pancreatic cancer, saving thousands of lives every year.
Now, governments need to do more to make this a reality.
We need governments and cancer ministers across the UK to:
