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Pancreas cancer hope over surgery Pancreas cancer hope over surgery
(about 2 hours later)
An operation for people with advanced pancreatic cancer has been performed by UK doctors for the first time.An operation for people with advanced pancreatic cancer has been performed by UK doctors for the first time.
A team at London's Royal Free Hospital used the new technique, pioneered in the US, in December, it has emerged. In December, a team at London's Royal Free Hospital operated on a woman using the technique, pioneered in the US.
It involved cutting away the tumour along with the portal vein - a major vessel in the pancreas - and replacing it with the jugular vein from the neck. It involved cutting away the tumour and portal vein - a major vessel near the pancreas - and replacing it with the jugular vein from the neck.
The female patient is now recovering well and experts believe the surgery could help up to 700 people a year.The female patient is now recovering well and experts believe the surgery could help up to 700 people a year.
This technique is exciting as it enables us to offer a whole new group of patients the opportunity for surgery Kito Fusai, surgeonThis technique is exciting as it enables us to offer a whole new group of patients the opportunity for surgery Kito Fusai, surgeon
There is currently no treatment for pancreatic cancer that is so advanced, with most patients given just six months to live.There is currently no treatment for pancreatic cancer that is so advanced, with most patients given just six months to live.
The surgery also removes the portal vein because pancreatic cancer often invades that part of the pancreas as it advances. The surgery also removes the portal vein because pancreatic cancer often invades that part of the abdomen as it advances.
Those diagnosed in the earlier stages can sometimes be treated with chemotherapy or surgery, but of the 7,400 people who get it each year just 3% are alive five years later.Those diagnosed in the earlier stages can sometimes be treated with chemotherapy or surgery, but of the 7,400 people who get it each year just 3% are alive five years later.
The development comes after it was announced film star Patrick Swayze is battling the disease.The development comes after it was announced film star Patrick Swayze is battling the disease.
ExcitingExciting
Surgeon Kito Fusai, who performed the first procedure with his colleague Dinesh Sharma, said the technique was exciting.Surgeon Kito Fusai, who performed the first procedure with his colleague Dinesh Sharma, said the technique was exciting.
"If discovered early, before it has spread to other major organs such as the liver or lungs, the cancer may be treatable."If discovered early, before it has spread to other major organs such as the liver or lungs, the cancer may be treatable.
"However, currently only a small proportion of patients - around 10% - are suitable for surgery."However, currently only a small proportion of patients - around 10% - are suitable for surgery.
"The only treatment for the vast majority of patients is chemotherapy or palliative treatment."The only treatment for the vast majority of patients is chemotherapy or palliative treatment.
"This technique is exciting as it enables us to offer a whole new group of patients the opportunity for surgery."This technique is exciting as it enables us to offer a whole new group of patients the opportunity for surgery.
"We expect it will double the number of patients each year - potentially saving many hundreds more lives.""We expect it will double the number of patients each year - potentially saving many hundreds more lives."
And he added: "Without this surgery the patient would undoubtedly have died, probably within six months or a year's time."And he added: "Without this surgery the patient would undoubtedly have died, probably within six months or a year's time."
The breakthrough in the UK comes after successful operations were carried out in the US.The breakthrough in the UK comes after successful operations were carried out in the US.
A team at the MD Anderson Cancer Centre in Houston, Texas, operated on 55 patients three years ago, with recent data showing encouraging survival rates. A team at the MD Anderson Cancer Centre in Houston, Texas, has operated on 55 patients, with recent data showing encouraging survival rates.
Maggie Blanks, of the Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund, said: "When tumours are close to the portal vein it precludes surgery so anything that overcomes that is a major step.Maggie Blanks, of the Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund, said: "When tumours are close to the portal vein it precludes surgery so anything that overcomes that is a major step.
"But it is very early stages and this does not sound like it would necessarily help when the cancer has spread beyond the pancreas.""But it is very early stages and this does not sound like it would necessarily help when the cancer has spread beyond the pancreas."