Pancreatic cancer has one of the lowest survival rates, and unfortunately, symptoms often appear once it has reached a late stage. This makes early detection critical, especially for those at a higher risk. Hartford HealthCare is proud to offer medical surveillance with the Project Purple High-Risk Pancreatic Cancer Program to help improve survival odds for individuals with genetic mutations and family histories of this disease.
“No matter what stage you are diagnosed at, we want you to know there is hope,” Project Purple Founder & CEO Dino Verrelli said. “However, we know that on a grander scale, an early diagnosis greatly improves an individual’s survival rate. So we want to get as many people enrolled in this initiative as we can.”
What is the Program?
In 2024, Project Purple provided Hartford HealthCare a $750,000 grant to create the largest high-risk pancreatic cancer screening program in Connecticut. This grant is the largest philanthropic donation made for a pancreatic cancer initiative in the state’s history. The program aims to create a systematic approach to screen those at high risk.
“It’s incredibly meaningful to create an impact in our home state,” Verrelli said, “The overarching mission here is to create a statewide model that services everyone. Beyond that, we want this program to become a blueprint that can be applied to other states nationwide. It’s an honor to see Connecticut lead the way.”
Hartford HealthCare was chosen for this initiative because of its wide-reaching network and unwavering commitment to addressing healthcare disparities. The High-Risk Pancreatic Cancer Program (HRPCP) will focus on identifying patients at high risk, implementing regular screenings, and offering timely interventions if necessary. The ultimate goal is to detect pancreatic cancer at earlier stages, improving treatment effectiveness and survival rates.
“The HRPCP aligns with Hartford HealthCare’s commitment to provide comprehensive pancreatic cancer care to Connecticut residents in their communities,” said Hartford HealthCare Surgical Oncologist Dr. Lindsay Bliss, MD, MPH. “This collaboration will bring prevention closer to those at-risk and allow us to act early for the best possible outcomes.”
Why is Early Detection So Important?
Pancreatic cancer is often referred to as a “silent” disease because it rarely shows symptoms in its early stages. By the time many people start to feel the effects, the cancer has often grown, and it can spread to other organs.
This makes it even more important for high-risk individuals to undergo regular screenings, even when they don’t have symptoms. Early detection significantly increases the chances of successful treatment.
As it progresses, it can cause symptoms such as:
- Abdominal or stomach pain
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)
- Lower back pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Unexplained weight loss
- Light-colored stool
- Diarrhea/loose stools
- Dark urine
Who Is Considered High-Risk For Pancreatic Cancer?
You may be at increased risk for pancreatic cancer if you have multiple family members with the disease, an inherited genetic mutation, or a combination of the two.
About 10% of people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer have:
- Inherited secondary mutations such as CDK2NA, STK11 (Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome), BRCA1, BRCA2, HNPCC (Lynch Syndrome), ATM, PALB2
- Genetic predispositions that lead to chronic pancreatitis, such as PRSS1, PRSS2, CTRC, CPA1, SPINK1
If you believe you may be in one of these groups, we highly encourage contacting Hartford HealthCare.
What Does Screening Involve?
Screening for pancreatic cancer includes imaging tests like an MRI of the abdomen or an endoscopic ultrasound (EUS). During your visit, you will meet with a program surgeon who specializes in pancreatic cancer. They will work with you to develop a personalized surveillance balance based on your individual risk factors.
Once your tests are completed, the results will be reviewed and closely monitored for any abnormalities.
How Can You Get Started?
It’s important to take action if you believe you may be at high risk for pancreatic cancer.
“Anyone who may be at risk for pancreatic cancer should be asking the question, ‘How can I reduce that risk?’” says Dr. Bliss, “The answer may be as simple as a phone call to our program.”
Contact Hartford HealthCare today to learn more about how this program can help you stay ahead of pancreatic cancer.
Phone: 860-972-1717
Email: PancreasCancer@hhchealth.org
