Chemo post surgery cuts pancreatic cancer recurrence risk 30%

The use of chemotherapy following surgery reduces the risk of death from operable pancreatic cancer by around 30%, according to a study published  in the January 21 issue of the British Journal of Cancer.

Pancreatic cancer is the 10th most common cancer. Nearly 7,600 people  are diagnosed with the disease in the UK each year, but survival rates  remain a major concern - as only around 2% or 3% of patients survive for  more than five years.

The new research, funded by Cancer Research UK, shows that patients who  had surgery and chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil alongside folinic acid  (FOLFOX), had a five-year survival rate of 24%. This was compared to 14%  for those who only had surgery.