Launching the Pancreatic Cancer UK Diagnosis Manifesto for Northern Ireland report are the charity’s Head of Policy and Campaigns, David Park; Pancreatic Cancer UK supporter Victoria Poole; Jo-Anne Dobson MLA and Pancreatic Cancer UKs Northern Ireland Community Involvement Coordinator, Michelle Penney

PEOPLE across Northern Ireland must be aware of the possible symptoms of pancreatic cancer, and better training and support is urgently needed for GPs in order to improve survival rates, a new report has found.

Pancreatic Cancer UK is today calling for urgent action to be taken to allow people with the disease to live for longer, in its Diagnosis Manifesto for Northern Ireland report.

The charity has launched a ten point action plan in its report to tackle the disease, which over 200 people are diagnosed with in Northern Ireland every year.

Pancreatic cancer also has the lowest survival rate of all the 21 common cancers, with just five per cent of people in Northern Ireland living for five years or more after diagnosis.

In its report the charity calls for a public awareness campaign of the possible symptoms of the disease, including tummy pain, weight loss, yellow skin or eyes or itchy skin and oily floating poo, as part of the Northern Ireland Public Health Agency’s ‘Be Cancer Aware’ campaign.

The charity is also calling for better training and support for GPs, so patients are referred for hospital tests to confirm their diagnosis as soon as possible, and for improved treatment and support including all patients and families to be supported by a Cancer Nurse Specialist.

Pancreatic Cancer UK launched the report as part of a series of meetings at the Northern Ireland Assembly in Stormont.

The charity’s Head of Policy and Campaigns, David Park, Northern Ireland Community Involvement Coordinator Michelle Penney, and supporter Victoria Poole met with Tom Buchanan MLA, Jo-Anne Dobson MLA, Kieran McCarthy MLA, Basil McCrea MLA, Oliver McMullan MLA and Cathal Ó Hoisín MLA.

The MLAs also heard about the charity’s plans to raise awareness of the disease in Northern Ireland over the course of Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month in November.

Pancreatic Cancer UK’s Head of Policy and Campaigns, David Park, said: “It’s appalling that the number of people living for just five years after diagnosis in Northern Ireland is still just five per cent, and that figure has barely improved in the last 40 years. We urgently need a public awareness campaign to spread the word about the symptoms of pancreatic cancer, so that people know what to look out for.

“GPs must also receive better training about the disease and more effective tools to help them recognise the signs, because we know the sooner people are diagnosed, the longer they are likely to live.

“We also need improved care in Northern Ireland – all too often patients tell us they feel isolated and it is difficult to find the right information and support after they are diagnosed.

“We simply must tackle this disease as an absolute priority, otherwise people across Northern Ireland will continue to be diagnosed too late and die too soon.”

Pancreatic Cancer UK supporter Victoria Poole, aged 24 from Scarva, lost her nanny to pancreatic cancer in June last year.

Victoria said: “My nanny had been suffering from severe abdominal pain for a few months and first went to visit her GP in September 2013.

“She was initially diagnosed with another condition and ultimately when she was referred for a hospital appointment to look further into her ongoing symptoms, she was told she had terminal pancreatic cancer.

“I am now really passionate about spreading the word about pancreatic cancer, because before nanny’s diagnosis I didn’t really know anything about it.

“All of us, including the public and health professionals, must find out more about, and do our bit to tackle, this dreadful disease. If we don’t, others will continue to tragically lose people they love too soon, like myself and my family.”

Pancreatic Cancer UK provides local support in Northern Ireland and runs free patient information days and supporter days for people directly affected by the disease. The charity is also working to improve care for people with pancreatic cancer in Northern Ireland by holding study days for healthcare professionals.

People can download a full copy of the Diagnosis Manifesto for Northern Ireland on the Pancreatic Cancer UK website here.e