Jupiter Medical Center Seeing Rise in Pancreatic Cancer Patients
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- Written By: Jupiter Medical Center
Stomachache, back pain, jaundice and indigestion could be symptoms of numerous conditions, but for an increasing number of Floridians, those symptoms might mean pancreatic cancer. In fact, pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest major cancers, with up to 9 percent of patients living five years after the cancer is diagnosed.
Pancreatic cancer is currently the third-leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States and is anticipated to become the second deadliest by 2020. Last year, in the state of Florida alone, more than 3,300 lives were lost to pancreatic cancer, with 263 of those deaths occurring in Palm Beach County, according to the Florida Department of Health.
“It’s often difficult to diagnose pancreatic cancer due to the lack of early symptoms; however, an early referral is important to assess whether or not surgery is an option for the patient,” said Dr. Shanel Bhagwandin, medical director of the Gastrointestinal Surgical Oncology Program at Jupiter Medical Center.
Surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy are traditionally used to relieve a patient’s symptoms, and in the last 10 years, according to Dr. Bhagwandin, there have been significant advancements in chemotherapy, as well as surgical and minimally invasive options to treat pancreatic cancer with improved outcomes.
When it comes to diagnosing patients with pancreatic cancer, time is of the essence. “Jupiter Medical Center provides patients with a comprehensive, multidisciplinary team and a personalized treatment plan. Our patients have every resource they need throughout treatment here at Jupiter Medical Center, including oncology nurses, social workers, pharmacists, counselors, dietitians and other critical healthcare professionals. Because our team of experts is in one place, our patients are not losing valuable time traveling between multiple specialists in a variety of locations,” Dr. Bhagwandin explained. “As a result of our extensive experience and resources, the Gastrointestinal Surgical Oncology Program at Jupiter Medical Center is the only high-volume pancreatic cancer center in Palm Beach and Martin counties.”
As pancreatic cancer diagnoses continue to rise, Jupiter Medical Center is committed to increasing awareness and sharing information about the latest advancements in treatment options available to patients. Jupiter Medical Center is currently fundraising to enhance its Gastroenterology Institute and pancreatic cancer program to continue to provide a comprehensive spectrum of services, offering patients access to leading-edge diagnostics and interventional procedures right here at home.
Join Jupiter Medical Center in observing Thursday, November 21, 2019, as World Pancreatic Cancer Day, by wearing purple and sharing the symptoms and risks of this disease.
About Jupiter Medical Center
An independent, not-for-profit, 297-bed regional medical center, Jupiter Medical Center is the first and only hospital in Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River, Dade and Broward counties to receive a five-star rating for patient safety and quality of care – the highest ranking awarded by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The ranking places the hospital in the top 7 percent of the nation’s hospitals. In addition, The Leapfrog Group, a national healthcare watchdog organization, recognized Jupiter Medical Center as a Top Hospital and awarded the hospital an “A” in overall patient safety and quality care. World-class physicians, strategic partnerships, and innovative techniques and technology enable Jupiter Medical Center to provide a broad range of services, with specialty concentrations in neurosciences and stroke care; cardiac and vascular care; oncology; women’s and children’s services; orthopedics and spine care; urgent care; and other key areas. Founded in 1979, Jupiter Medical Center has approximately 1,689 team members, 650 physicians, 593 nurses and 640 volunteers.
For more information on Jupiter Medical Center, please call 561-263-2200 or visit jupitermed.com.
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