Pancreatic cancer is a relatively rare cancer, but it remains one of the most lethal. "It's a very complex disease; these people are hard to take care of, they have complicated medical issues," says Dr. Margaret Tempero, research director at UC San Francisco's Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center. "The field needs more trained practitioners and more funding for research," she says.
South Carolina has not ignored this call-to-action. Researchers at SC INBRE network and outreach institutions are working on this disease: MUSC's Hollings Cancer Center is a nationally-recognized leader in cancers of the digestive system, including the colon, pancreas, liver, stomach, biliary tree and rectum. Students at the Anderson University Center for Cancer Research work with advanced equipment and skilled researchers to study cancer treatments and causes, all with a focus on community outreach and education. Students work with fruit and plant extracts to see how well they fight different forms of cancer – pancreatic, stomach, or nerve, for example.
There is still more work to be done. Funding opportunities are available from groups such as the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. Learn more
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