Ryan Tubridy lends support to Maia Dunphy and Marty Morrissey to mark World Pancreatic Cancer day
The 5 in 6 campaign also airs a short video with Ryan, Marty Morrissey and Maia, whose lives have been impacted by pancreatic cancer
Ex-RTÉ star Ryan Tubridy has joined stars Marty Morrissey and Maia Dunphy in a new pancreatic cancer campaign video marking World Pancreatic Cancer Day.
Maia, whose mother Helen died from pancreatic cancer in 2022, said she wonders if her mother would still be alive if she was diagnosed earlier.
She said: “My beautiful mother Helen died in 2022 from pancreatic cancer, just six months following her hugely invasive Whipple surgery.
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“I often wonder would she still be with us today had she been diagnosed earlier. The symptoms can be terribly non-specific so people shouldn’t be alarmed if they suddenly develop back pain or reflux, which my mum experienced, as chances are, they are simply back pain or reflux.
“But if any symptoms or changes to your body persist, or if you have a combination of symptoms, please, please consider getting checked out. If this campaign can help even one person, it will be worthwhile.”
The 5 in 6 campaign also airs a short video with Ryan, Marty Morrissey and Maia, whose lives have all been impacted by pancreatic cancer.
In the video, each contributor is seen holding a purple candle. One by one, five of the candles are blown out, representing the 5 in every 6 people diagnosed who will die of this deadly disease.
The video concludes with a message of hope from Pamela Deasy, who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2018 and who, because of an early diagnosis together with invasive treatments, is living life to her fullest.
Pamela’s is the candle that does not extinguish as she urges everyone to be aware of the signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer.
Meanwhile, one of Ireland’s foremost pancreatic cancer clinical experts has called for every pancreatic cancer patient in Ireland to be offered an opportunity to participate in a clinical trial.
Professor Grainne O’Kane, Consultant Oncologist specialising in pancreatic cancer malignancies, has described pancreatic cancer as a disease so lethal that clinical trials should be considered part of the first line of treatment.
She said: “The treatment of pancreatic cancer is beginning to change and people in Ireland should have access to the latest new treatments or therapies in trials. But in order to access these treatments, access to DNA testing of the tumour is required and while this is the norm in many other countries, unfortunately it is just not happening in Ireland right now.
“In North America and in Europe, clinical trials for people with pancreatic cancer are a regular, early and essential part of the treatment process. They allow clinicians to push the boundaries of science and provide patients with much needed options, which gives hope. Trials also allow us to understand the disease better and give patients an opportunity to help people in the future.
“Unlike many other cancers, pancreatic cancer has a very low survival rate so clinical trials should not be offered to patients as a last resort. This is unfair to the more than 600 people diagnosed every year in Ireland.”
Professor O’Kane was speaking on World Pancreatic Cancer Day, November 21, which also saw the 2024 launch of Ireland’s 5 in 6 campaign, the aim of which is to highlight one of Ireland’s deadliest cancers, which kills five in every six people diagnosed with cancer of the pancreas.
Visit Pancreatic Cancer Ireland on Instagram for more information and support.
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