Another public figure with pancreatic cancer.

[TruBlu]

Here are a few quotes from the article on CNN:

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the only woman on the Supreme Court, had surgery Thursday for early stage pancreatic cancer.

Justice Ginsburg had no symptoms prior to the incidental discovery of the lesion during a routine annual checkup in late January at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland.

A CAT scan revealed a small tumor, approximately one centimeter across, in the center of the pancreas.

Almost 35,000 Americans are estimated to have died from pancreatic cancer in 2008, making it the fourth leading cause of cancer death overall, according to the American Cancer Society. For all ages combined, the one-year survival rate is 24 percent; the five-year survival rate is 5 percent.


So sad. This disease has got to get more attention in the research community.

 

[Mackey Mouse]

The sad part of this whole thing is that she survived colon cancer to get hit with this one.....now that is not fair..

I am not an expert by any means, but when I heard the placement of the tumor I cringed....They did not say that she had Whipple surgery which is the one that offers the most hope for time. Believe when I tell you, as someone whose husband is trying to make it to 5 years, it is a horrific cancer, devastating and destroying. I wish her only the best...

The reason there is not much research on this cancer is clear.. dollars.. why would a drug company do research on a cancer where very few people survive for long periods to buy the drugs that would keep them alive.. I know horrifying to type, but it is the truth.

 

[antmaril]

Unfortunately, Justice Ginsburg is in for the fight of her life. As Marsha said, it is horrific.

My husband had the surgery in December, 2007 and died in July, 2008. He had maybe a handful of decent days in that time period.

I wish Justice Ginsburg all the best in her battle with this monster.

 

[Torontogal]

I hope they find a cure for this disease. It is a beast.

 

[ameraumi]

When I read an article and they discussed her recoup time it sounded just like a Whipple, but they never came out and said that.

Cancer sucks. Plain and simple.

 

[Mackey Mouse]

Yes.. that is what made me suspicious.. why not say it is a Whipple.. it is a famous surgery and one that gives hope. I know the recoup time was approximately the same.. 8 to 10 days.

Here is what I think. Are people really just not aware of what the protocol is to treat this cancer? Clearly there is a name to the surgery that is done for this type of cancer. If I were reporting about Justice Ginsburg, I would make sure I knew exactly what was being done for her.. Maybe they are not releasing the information....but I would hate to think it is just they do not know the name for this surgery and did not bother to find out... It actually annoys me a bit.

Unless they went in and put a stent in because of the location. Why not report what is being done for her, surgery, treatment, instead of reporting the statistics.... Maybe they should be reporting why the statistics are what they are clearly a case of not enough research on this cancer......

Sorry....I think because I am so close to this illness that I get very passionate about getting the truth out there.. I know those of you have been there and done understand what I am saying..

Hugs.