The National Pancreas Foundation has designated UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center as a National Pancreas Foundation Center of Excellence in recognition of its multidisciplinary pancreatic cancer care program and its focus on providing the best possible outcomes and an improved quality of life for its patients.
“Earning the National Pancreas Foundation Center of Excellence designation speaks to UNC Lineberger’s commitment to provide the most advanced, equitable and compassionate pancreatic cancer care that is informed by research,” said Jen Jen Yeh, MD, director of the UNC Lineberger Pancreatic Cancer Center of Excellence and professor of surgery and pharmacology at the UNC School of Medicine. “From our labs to our clinics, we have a singular focus to discover, develop and provide innovative care that leads to better outcomes for our patients.”
National Pancreas Foundation Center of Excellence designation
To earn the National Pancreas Foundation Center of Excellence designation, a center must meet criteria developed by a task force made up of invited subject matter experts and patient advocates.
The criteria include having the required expert physician specialties such as gastroenterologists, pancreas surgeons and interventional radiologists, along with more patient focused programs, such as a pain management service and psychosocial support.
Pancreatic cancer in the U.S.
The American Cancer Society estimates that more than 67,000 people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer this year, and more than 49,000 will die from the disease, making it the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths in the country. Pancreatic cancer has the lowest five-year survival rate of all major cancers. Only one in 10 people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer today will still be alive in five years.
UNC Lineberger Pancreatic Cancer Center of Excellence
UNC Lineberger founded its Pancreatic Cancer Center of Excellence in 2021 to bring together cancer center faculty with a broad range of expertise to focus on pancreatic cancer and to provide excellent multidisciplinary patient care and generate research discoveries that can be translated into new, more effective approaches and ultimately, cures for pancreatic cancer.
“This national recognition affirms the hard work of our physicians, faculty and staff and reinforces our commitment to excellence in caring for patients with pancreatic cancer,” Yeh said.