Heidi brings pancreatic cancer to a head

QUEENSCLIFF’S Heidi Waterson hosted a community forum discussing pancreatic cancer in Geelong at the weekend.

Heidi lost her father to pancreatic cancer in April this year, and organised the event on Saturday to raise awareness in his memory.

Leading medical oncologist and cancer researcher Associate Professor Lara Lipton discussed the prevalence and symptoms of pancreatic cancer, as well as the latest developments in research and treatment.

Pancreatic cancer has one of the lowest survival rates of all cancers – only 7.7 per cent of people with the disease live for five years past their initial diagnosis.

However, there is very little public awareness of the prevalence of pancreatic cancer.

“It’s not a cancer that people hear a lot about, which I think is quite remarkable given the low survival rates and diagnosis,” Ms Waterson said.

Her personal experience has motivated her to address the desperate need in the community for more awareness of pancreatic cancer.

“Our experience has been that pancreatic cancer is quite hideous, and really rapid from the time of diagnosis.

“I think the more information that people have, the better.”

Heidi also shaved her head in mid-July to raise funds – so far more than $4,400 has been raised which has gone towards funding pancreatic cancer research and clinical trials.

“Pancreatic cancer has one of the lowest survival rates of all cancers, and there is a lack of public awareness about it,” Associate Professor Lipton said.

“This forum was an opportunity to share information about this aggressive disease with the community.”