Pancreatic Cancer Alliance on Steve Jobs' death

Oct 6, 2011 8:26pm

(NECN: Katie Daly, Worcester, MA) - The flags in front of Apple's headquarters in Cupertino, California are flying at half-staff to honor the company's co-founder Steve Jobs, who died Wednesday at age 56, after a more than seven-year battle with pancreatic cancer.

The death of Jobs has started to bring attention to pancreatic cancer, a type of cancer that many doctors say is less well known.

”It’s relatively rare,” said Dr. Tseng. “Although it's the most lethal. Forty thousand get it, but it’s one of the biggest killers.”

Jobs lived more than seven years with a rare form of pancreatic cancer that grows more slowly than most kinds. Most cases of pancreatic cancer are hard to detect and many people do not start showing symptoms until it is too late to treat

Doctor Jennifer Tseng, director the UMass pancreas program, is working to change that.

”If we could come up with easy detection tests which I am working on at UMass, we will be able to pick more easily when its curable.”
 
Doctor Tseng says she believes more funding for research is key to making a breakthrough in treating pancreatic cancer. The pancreatic cancer alliance was created in Worcester eight years ago to help fund clinical trials.  
            
“We realized we could make a difference as a group,” said Audrey Kurlan Marcy, the chair of the pancreatic cancer alliance.

She says pancreatic cancer is the nation’s fourth leading cancer killer and ranks 11th in research funding for the National Cancer Institute. Each year she helps to raise thousands of dollars for research.

She is hoping more people will get involved in the fight against pancreatic cancer now that the passing of Steve Jobs is making headlines.



Statement on Apple Website:
 
Steve Jobs
1955 – 2022
Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being.  Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve have lost a dear friend and an inspiring mentor.  Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple.
 
If you would like to share your thoughts, memories, and condolences, please email rememberingsteve@apple.com

Tags: UMass, Worcester, Katie Daly, steve jobs, pancreatic cancer alliance, doctor jennifer tseng

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