Gallery lights up to promote World Pancreatic Cancer Day

Bury Art Gallery and Museum will be lit in purple on Thursday (Nov 16) to mark the fourth World Pancreatic Cancer Day.

Across the globe, there are 280,000 new cases of pancreatic cancer each year and it is the seventh biggest cancer killer (fifth in the UK) yet so many people know nothing about it.

Pancreatic cancer has the lowest survival rate of all common cancers. Every year, almost 9,000 men and women in the UK will be newly diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and due to late diagnosis they will be faced with an average life expectancy of just three to six months. Only 4% of people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer today are predicted to survive for at least five years, a survival rate which hasn’t improved for 40 years.

Councillor Andrea Simpson, Bury Council’s cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “Little is known about pancreatic cancer and because of the lack of symptoms in the early stages and vague symptoms it is difficult to diagnose. It’s important for people to gain a better understanding of the signs and symptoms so it can be treated sooner which will improve the survival rate. I welcome the #lightpurple campaign and hope it makes more people aware of the illness and the symptoms to watch out for.”

The museum will also be lit in purple on Friday to mark World Prematurity Day.

ENDS

Press release issued: 14 November 2017.