If caught early, cancer survival rates increase exponentially

By Roger Royse

This is a lightly edited excerpt of testimony recently provided to the U.S. House’s Energy and Commerce Health subcommittee hearing "Examining Policies to Enhance Seniors’ Access to Breakthrough Medical Technologies."

In 2022, I was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, a disease that only has a 12% 5-year survival rate. Fortunately, I caught it early, and as of this summer, my oncologist says that I am now likely cured.

I discovered my cancer from a multi-cancer early detection (MCED) blood test that I ordered through a telemedicine doctor. At the time of my test, I had no symptoms or obvious signs that anything was wrong. My only risk factor would have been my age (I was 62 years old at the time, placing me within the most prevalent demographic for pancreatic cancer).   

According to one radiologist, because of the location of my tumor and how it was growing, I likely would not have had any symptoms until the last months or weeks of my life. I was extraordinarily lucky to catch it early.

Soon after my MCED test, I encouraged my family to also get tested. Some did, but my brother delayed screening and, unfortunately, while I was finishing my final week of chemotherapy, he was admitted for emergency surgery for late-stage lymphoma — a cancer that is highly curable when caught early. My brother died from his cancer nine months later.

I survived a cancer that is 90% fatal; my brother died from a cancer that is 90% curable. My cancer was detected early; his was detected late. My experience and the data support the conclusion that the timing of detection and treatment is a key factor in recovery.

Pancreatic cancer generally has a dismal prognosis due to the fact that it is usually caught only at a late stage.  According to PanCan, the 5-year survival rate has improved slightly over the past decade — from 7% to 13% — but pancreatic cancer still remains the third-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S. and is projected to overtake second place.  

Patients diagnosed at localized stages have a much higher survival rate — 44% — highlighting the importance of early detection. 

Despite the importance of early detection in pancreatic cancer, there is no FDA-approved screening test for pancreatic cancer. In fact, contrary to modern scientific data, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (“Task Force”) twice recommended against pancreatic cancer screening on the grounds that “available screening tests can be invasive, cause pain, and sometimes lead to unnecessary and risky treatment.” 

That unsupported opinion reflects stale beliefs from 20 years ago. Today, cancer can be detected via multi-cancer early detection (MCED) techniques that include blood tests (liquid biopsies) and non-invasive scans. My own experience with MCED was that it was neither invasive, painful, unnecessary, or risky. It only required a mere blood draw.   

Despite the importance and ease of MCED screening, the demographic that needs it most is less likely to be able to afford it. According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), age is the most important risk factor for cancer since cancer incidence increases with age. Under age 20, for example, there are fewer than 26 cases per 100,000, but for those who are 60 years old or older, there are over 1,000 cases per 100,000. In fact, the median age for cancer diagnosis is 67 years. The cost of my MCED screening was not covered by insurance, so I had to pay roughly $1,000 for the test.

Battling cancer requires constant effort. Patients are not allowed to rest when they are required to advocate for themselves. Even after receiving an early diagnosis, I still underwent six months of chemotherapy and a distal pancreatomy surgery. According to my pathology report, the chemotherapy had no effect, so I had to engage in my own research. Eventually, in addition to standard of care, I sought out a novel neo-antigen peptide cancer vaccine, which was administered under an FDA expanded access program and other supplemental therapies. Cancer patients face a long and uncertain road. Early detection at an affordable cost is the leverage that would help ensure a greater likelihood of survival and lower expenses during the process.

Read the full testimony here.

Roger Royse is a cancer survivor and advocate. 

_{*The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of HealthPlatform.News.}