Any diagnosis of pancreatic cancer can leave patients and families reeling. Of the 64,000 adults in the U.S. found to have pancreatic cancer in 2023, 80 percent are diagnosed at a stage that is too advanced for surgery. Even after surgery, five-year survival is typically only 10 to 30 percent. And for patients’ loved ones, fear and helplessness often compound loss.
“For years, patients with a family history of pancreatic cancer would come to us and ask, ‘What can I do?’” says Dr. Charles M. Noyer, the Director of Gastroenterology at White Plains Hospital.
In 2013, Dr. Noyer and his colleague Dr. Joshua Raff, Director of the Digestive Cancer Program, felt compelled to find answers for patients at higher risk for developing pancreatic cancer—those over 40 with either a family history of pancreatic cancer or an underlying disorder of the pancreas. They decided to focus on screening as a means of early detection, using endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to reveal pre-cancerous cysts or tumors in the early stages of cancer. In April 2014, the Pancreatic Cancer Early Detection Program (PCEDP) opened at White Plains Hospital.
“Our clinical trial at White Plains Hospital was the first study of its kind in a community-centered hospital to highlight the feasibility and benefit of EUS and MRI in an elevated-risk population,” says Dr. Raff.
For a decade, Dr. Noyer and Dr. Raff enrolled close to 200 participants, conducting imaging studies for each patient over five years. Of the patients confirmed to have pancreatic abnormalities, 69 percent of these abnormalities were discovered by EUS.
“Other studies and sites had very strict criteria, and we wanted our study to be more inclusive,” says Dr. Raff. Eligibility was based on a family history of pancreatic cancer, certain gene markers (such as BRCA, the breast cancer mutation), or conditions such as chronic pancreatitis or Peutz-Jeghars syndrome, a rare disorder in which growths called polyps form in the intestines.
“As word spread among family members, we began seeing siblings and parents [who also wanted to be screened],” recalls Dr. Noyer. “We started getting calls from out of state—as far as Alaska—from patients who had always been told that nothing could be done.”
Dr. Raff highlights three key outcomes from the study: “First, both patients and doctors need to be more aware of the risk factors for pancreatic cancer, and that reviewing and updating family history of cancer is critical. Second, there are safe and reliable actions to take, in the form of EUS and MRI, for those at elevated risk of developing pancreatic cancer. And third, these actions can be done close to home, in community-based hospital settings.”
“Our ability to detect early cancer or pre-cancerous lesions makes such a difference for patients and their families,” he adds. “The power for life-changing action in this message gives me chills. If you are at elevated risk for pancreatic cancer, then you do not have to sit back passively and simply say, ‘I hope this doesn’t happen to me.’ There are measures to take. Countless families will benefit.”
Spread the Word: Screening Saves Lives
To broaden the impact of their trial, Dr. Raff and Dr. Noyer expressed the need for a Pancreatic Cancer Screening Program at White Plains Hospital. Their efforts drew the attention of the ReMission Foundation in Rye Brook, a nonprofit that supports researchers exploring innovative ways to treat and prevent cancer.
Having awarded Dr. Raff and Dr. Noyer a grant, ReMission has partnered with White Plains Hospital to spearhead their campaign of encouraging screening for those at elevated risk.
“In my ‘day job’ working in technology, I always tell clients they can be reactive or proactive,” says David Yaches, co-founder of ReMission. “Getting ahead of something improves your chances of a favorable outcome, and that’s just as true in medicine. The Hospital’s screening campaign resonated with me and ReMisson’s other founders: the chance to understand your risk, take action, and get a firmer handle on the situation.”
That’s especially true with pancreatic cancer, in which early screening remains more effective than surgical treatment.
“White Plains Hospital is growing in its impact and thriving on new partnerships,” says Dr. Noyer. “We are thrilled and honored to have ReMission’s support.”
Ask your primary care provider about evaluating your risk for pancreatic cancer and options for screening. White Plains Hospital’s Pancreatic Cancer screening program can help assess your risk. Learn more at wphospital.org/pancreatic. Early detection could save your life. Need a physician? Visit WPHPA.org or call 914-849-MyMD (6963).
Dr. Charles Noyer, Director of Gastroenterology and Dr. Joshua Raff, Director of White Plains Hospital’s Digestive Cancer Program, co-lead the Hospital’s Pancreatic Cancer Screening Program.