Nadia Valsecchi Foundation in Italy was established in 2015. Pictured: A fundraiser event.

Nadia Valsecchi Foundation is an Italian organization established in 2015 by the Valsecchi family in memory of Nadia, who lost her battle against pancreatic cancer in 2013.

The first mission of the foundation is to support research by establishing scholarships for young investigators, which are leading promising science in pancreatic cancer.

The second mission is to create awareness about the disease through the organization of national meetings. General practitioners, scientists, oncologists, surgeons and patients periodically convene to discuss the state of the disease and to develop strategies to help patients with pancreatic cancer. For the past three years, the foundation co-organized World Pancreatic Cancer Day in Italy together with the pancreatic cancer organizations active in our territory.

The third mission is to support the needs of patients during their journey. Recently the Foundation launched a new patient program called PEP, Pancreas Energy Program, where patients participate in physical activities followed by a personal trainer and a dietary program supervised by a nutritionist. The entire program is coordinated by a nurse navigator, who records the data of each patient and organizes their weekly activities.

Since 2017, Nadia Valsecchi Foundation has been a member of the WPCC. Recently they took part in the WPCC annual meeting in Miami. A representative of the Foundation said, “The Coalition helps our organization prioritize the needs of patients, and through their campaign we create awareness about pancreatic cancer with a unique voice all over the world. Therefore, we regularly use the #demandbetter theme for our initiatives and fundraising events.”

From left, back: AFFPC Board member Ric Fera with Dr. A. James Moser, co-director of Pancreas Liver Institute and Pancreatic Cancer Research Program at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and associate professor of surgery, Harvard Medical Center. From left, front: Board members Theresa Dukovich, Kendra Haywood, Brigitte Regnier and Debbie Barnes. Not pictured: Board members Jessica Fera and Dr. Ken Grey.

The Alliance of Families Fighting Pancreatic Cancer (AFFPC), based in the United States, is an alliance of families, patients, caregivers, medical researchers, healthcare institutions and organizations united to transform pancreatic cancer treatment by empowering patients with personalized options for better survival and quality of life. The organization was founded in 2012 based on the realization that the families of those affected by pancreatic cancer are the ones who will lead the fight. We have faced pancreatic cancer and joined together to continue the fight.

Our World Pancreatic Cancer Coalition membership helps us connect with survivors, caregivers and other foundations who support our mission, and it helps us increase awareness of the need for personalized treatment options.

Our main aim is to transform pancreatic cancer treatment through front-line research to improve outcomes for all patients. We are especially pleased to support the development of the first-ever clinical biomarker to diagnose and treat pancreatic cancer.

Global demand for better pancreatic cancer diagnosis and treatment options remains high. The AFFPC supports the work of A. James Moser, MD, and his team at the Pancreas and Liver Institute at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) in Boston who are at the forefront of combating this complex disease head-on.

Dr. Moser’s research team works to increase scientific understanding at a molecular level and to increase patient care quality. BIDMC functions at the lead site on Project Survival, a biomarker discovery study led by BIDMC, Berg Pharma and PCRT. By utilizing Berg’s artificial intelligence software, their team is able to synthesize trillions of data points per sample, helping to discover and clinically validate the pancreatic cancer biomarkers. In May 2018, Dr. Moser founded the Pancreas and Liver Institute Disease Registry and Biorepository. This core biorepository aims to create a hub of pancreatic and liver research at BIDMC.​

If you look up collaboration in the dictionary, this is what you’ll get:

If you add the World Pancreatic Cancer Coalition’s (WPCC) commitment to fighting pancreatic cancer on a worldwide level to this definition of “collaboration,” this is what you’ll get:

At this year’s annual WPCC conference, the word “collaboration” was one of the key takeaways for attendees.

“Over the course of the two days, we heard from scientific experts and fellow members,” wrote Jessica Abelsohn, the co-founder of Australia’s #PurpleOurWorld. “We spoke about what we’ve all done right over the past couple of years and what we can do better. Being way over here in Australia, it’s important for us to feel part of something bigger, and we believe the Coalition provides this. We have always said, right from the beginning, that only by banding together will we beat this disease.”

#PurpleOurWorld was among the 40 member organizations from 22 countries and six continents who attended the 2018 WPCC meeting in Coral Gables, Fla. Members like Abelsohn networked and shared global expertise and experience in advocating for pancreatic cancer patients.

This was the third consecutive year global leaders in the pancreatic cancer space have collaborated, via panel discussions and workshops, to drive transformational change for those affected by the disease.

“WPCC is an incredible opportunity to work together with other organizations across the globe and unite in our fight to end pancreatic cancer,” said Julie Fleshman, JD, MBA, president and CEO of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) and chair of the WPCC Steering Committee. “Collectively, our voices are stronger, allowing us to make greater strides toward changing outcomes for pancreatic cancer patients.”

Every day, more than 1,000 people worldwide are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer; of that, we estimate 985 will die from the disease.

This makes our mission to end the world’s toughest cancer an urgent one.

“We can more quickly and efficiently improve these statistics by working together,” said Jenny Isaacson, PanCAN’s vice president of strategic partnerships and projects and WPCC attendee. “Through global collaboration, Coalition members raise awareness of pancreatic cancer and strengthen the capacity and individual efforts of all member organizations. Our mission is to drive transformational change for all those affected by pancreatic cancer.”

The next big event on WPCC’s radar is World Pancreatic Cancer Day (WPCD). The goal of WPCD is to increase knowledge of pancreatic cancer symptoms and risks at a worldwide level. While WPCD falls on Nov. 15 this year, attendees agreed — to really combat this disease, their fundraising, awareness, research and advocacy efforts need to be as strong on the other 364 days of the year as they are on WPCD.

To see how the Coalition is collaborating to combat pancreatic cancer worldwide, follow us on all our social media accounts:

• WPCC on Facebook
• WPCC on Twitter
• WPCC on Instagram 

WPCC members extend gratitude to “Visionary Sponsor” Celgene, “Accelerator Sponsors” Novocure and Shire and “Ally Sponsors” Halozyme, Immunovia and Ipsen.

Pancreatic Cancer Action is a UK charity whose aim is to save lives by focusing on improving early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.

The charity was set up by a pancreatic cancer survivor, Ali Stunt, three years after her diagnosis in 2007.  Having been involved in setting up the very first UK Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Week in 2009, she decided it was time to step up the levels of awareness for pancreatic cancer and founded Pancreatic Cancer Action in 2010.

The team at Pancreatic Cancer Action with founder Ali Stunt seated, second from right.

The charity has grown exponentially in seven years and now employs 14 staff members. Stunt is regularly featured in the media and holds positions in varying societies/initiatives representing pancreatic cancer and Pancreatic Cancer Action across the world.

Our main areas of focus are:

• We launch nationwide (and in some cases worldwide) awareness campaigns through the media, social networks, leaflets and posters, to try to make both men and women more aware of pancreatic cancer and its symptoms.
• We develop e-learning modules for healthcare professionals to educate them and help them spot the signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer at the earliest stages.
• We fund a variety of research projects that are focussed on unique and innovative ways to test for pancreatic cancer at the earliest stages.
• We work with other charities and key stakeholders in the UK and globally to help push pancreatic cancer up the political agenda and campaign for more funding and better treatments.

 

We have also developed e-learning modules for pharmacists and support staff to help support the early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.

We believe community pharmacy teams play a vital role in the early detection of cancer, and our new National Pharmacy Association-accredited digital learning modules have been specifically developed to help them learn more about the most common symptoms of pancreatic cancer. This will help pharmacists and support staff identify when urgent referral to the GP is required, which could potentially save a life.

A Pancreatic Cancer Action bus stop sign raises awareness.

Since the inaugural meeting in 2016, the WPCC has achieved a great deal and we have developed strong relationships with the members.  We are looking forward to working together in 2018 to develop new and engaging global campaigns by integrating our activity, teams and support bases, building on what we have learned from the coalition’s previous campaigns.

The theme of “Demand Better” resonates with all of us at Pancreatic Cancer Action. We hear daily of people being diagnosed too late for surgery. We want to “Demand Better” survival rates for pancreatic cancer through a government-led public awareness campaign, more research funding and by providing general practitioners with the tools required to diagnose patients in primary care.

Pancreatic Cancer Canada supporters gather at a recent walk.

Pancreatic Cancer Canada (PCCF) is focused on fighting pancreatic cancer through research, awareness, education and advocacy. Its goals are to improve overall patient survival rates and support those who are affected by this deadly disease. Since its inception in 2006, PCCF has invested nearly $4 million in research at cancer centers across Canada — funding studies that look at early detection, treatment and improved patient outcomes.

In November 2017, PCCF launched its first and very successful national awareness campaign: “Assumptions Can Be Deadly.” A bold and direct campaign, Assumptions created a momentum and dialogue in the public sphere that PCCF is determined to maintain and elevate in 2018 and beyond. The facts of this predatory cancer are unacceptable and PCCF is committed to changing the script for people diagnosed with this disease. The organization has engaged a global public relations firm to help mobilize efforts in converting awareness to ACTION. They will do this together with the community they support, donors, researchers, allied partners and media.

Pancreatic Cancer Canada has a table at Google Giving Day.

This is why the Demand Better campaign is so relevant to PCCF. It is an opportunity for likeminded groups to stand shoulder-to-shoulder in solidarity for those lost to pancreatic cancer and a way to bring everyone’s voices together to communicate the urgency. PCCF is proud to be a part of the campaign as a united front and to show those they serve that they are working hard to make good on their promises to them.

One of PCCF’s goals with the World Pancreatic Cancer Coalition is to elevate collaborations for corporate and industry partnerships. They believe there is immense opportunity for their groups collectively, and when coupled with their common objectives and vision, there is potential for far-reaching impact. PCCF is grateful for the generosity of so many partner groups in the Coalition who share across geography and borders so that all succeed together.

For more information on PCCF and “Assumptions Can Be Deadly,” visit www.pancreaticcancercanada.ca and www.assumptionscanbedeadly.ca