The First Line of Defense

Primary Care Clinicians and Early Detection of Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer is a diagnosis no provider wants to deliver.

As medical professionals, you are already aware of the fear that accompanies the words “pancreatic cancer.” So what should primary care providers know about detecting it early?

The First Line of Defense is a 4-part podcast specifically created for primary care providers to share recent advances and technology in the early detection of pancreatic cancer.

If you're a clinician, the difficulty with pancreatic cancer — and we've heard this from clinicians as well as from patients that we've interviewed — is that there's a lot less awareness of the risk factors for pancreatic cancer.

There's a lot less awareness of the potential for screening and surveillance for pancreatic cancer, and there's a lot less awareness of the potential importance of family history and genetics that play a role in pancreatic cancer.

So I think we have as a community to sort of educate ourselves of where the state of the science and current guidelines are.

— Dr. Sapna Syngal on the advances in technology for early detection of pancreatic cancer

In under an hour, listeners will hear from fellow primary care providers, researchers, patients, advocates, specialists to learn about the newest developments in assessing risk factors, symptoms, and the use of AI in early detection.

Meet the people behind the microphone.

Jon Hallberg, MD University of Minnesota

Sapna Syngal, MD, MPH Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Suresh Chari, MD MD Anderson Cancer Center

William Hoos, MBA Kenner Family Research Fund

Chris Sander, PhD Harvard University

Steve & Scott Nelson Pancreatic Cancer Survivors

The First of Line of Defense is a collaboration between leaders in pancreatic early detection, the Kenner Family Research Fund, and experienced, dynamic content creators for good at Entertainment 2 Affect Change.

The mission of Kenner Family Research Fund is to support innovative inquiry in early detection of pancreatic cancer by facilitating collaboration, encouraging idea generation, and promoting pioneering research. All initiatives led and supported by KFRF are focused upon strategic and collaborative innovation. Significant advances are realized through the sharing of knowledge, ideas, and resources of multiple individuals, institutions, and funding entities.

Entertainment 2 Affect Change (E2AC) is a 501(c)(3) that connects award-winning content creators, mission-based organizations, and passionate funders who want to share their impact through the power of story. E2AC’s division of healthcare-focused content, E2AC Health, has partnered with nonprofits, companies, patient advocates, and community organizations around the world. Based in Los Angeles and New York City, E2AC tells stories that entertain, engage, educate, and inspire. Learn more at E2AC.org/health.