PANCREATIC CANCER AWARENESS DAY IN BRIGG

Brigg Blog took this picture on Thursday, November 17 - after dark.
It shows a central window in the Angel building, within the town centre, illuminated in purple.
November 17 was World Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Day.
Campaigner for this cause, Andrew "Sass" Markham, kindly emailed a reminder to Brigg Blog, which prompted us to take the picture in the Market Place, looking from the end of Cary Lane.
North Lincolnshire Council, which owns the Angel complex, is supporting efforts being made to draw attention to this form of cancer, which has a low survival rate.
November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month.
Pancreatic cancer affects men and women. Each year on average 15 men and 13 women are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in North Lincolnshire.
It is more common amongst the older ages; almost half the cases are diagnosed in people aged over 75. It is uncommon in people under 40 years old.
There are usually no symptoms in the early stages of pancreatic cancer making it hard to diagnose.
An estimated 37 per cent of pancreatic cancers in the UK are linked to lifestyle factors including smoking (29 per cent) and being overweight or obese (12 per cent).
North Lincolnshire has higher than average rates of excess weight amongst adults and similar rates of adult smoking to England.
Pancreatic cancer is the fifth largest cause of cancer death in North Lincolnshire and in the UK.
In North Lincolnshire around 15 men and 14 women die each year from pancreatic cancer.
Around a fifth of people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer will survive for one year or more, dropping to three per cent surviving five years and only one per cent surviving 10 years or more.
The three most common symptoms are:

• Pain in the stomach or back
• Jaundice
• Unexpected weight loss
• New onset diabetes not associated with weight gain

Pancreatic cancer is currently very difficult to diagnose. Upon diagnosis, most sufferers find they have untreatable terminal cancer with an average life expectancy of between three to six months. Surgery is currently the only cure for pancreatic cancer, but only 10 per cent are diagnosed in time for this to be an option.
Coun Carl Sherwood, from Brigg, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, said: “Pancreatic cancer is the fifth biggest cancer killer. We want to raise awareness of this type of cancer and the common symptoms. Knowing the symptoms can help with early diagnosis and give you a better chance of surviving. Don’t ignore the symptoms, visit your GP straightaway.
“This Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month people are being asked to ‘Turn it Purple’, whether that is by wearing purple clothing or lighting up a building purple. It will get people talking about pancreatic cancer and hopefully fight against the odds.”