Why Pancreatic Cancer Is Often Missed and Who Should Be Screened | Hartford HealthCare

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most challenging cancers to detect early because symptoms often do not appear until the disease has advanced. In this 'Walk to Wellness' conversation, Dr. Bret M. Schipper, MD, FACS, CPE explains who may be at higher risk, how genetic testing can help identify eligible patients, and why early detection can save lives. Learn how Hartford HealthCare's high-risk pancreatic cancer screening program, supported through a partnership with Project Purple, is helping identify precancerous lesions and pancreatic cancer earlier for patients across Connecticut. If you have concerns about your family history or cancer risk, talk with your healthcare provider to learn whether genetic counseling or screening may be appropriate for you. 00:39 Meet Dr. Brett Schipper 01:18 What is Project Purple? 01:59 Hartford HealthCare's pancreatic cancer screening program 03:42 Who qualifies for screening? 05:48 The role of genetics and BRCA mutations 07:59 What happens after you're identified as high risk? 08:24 MRI and endoscopic ultrasound screening 10:00 Why early detection is critical 10:25 Pancreatic cancer treatment pathways 12:52 Current treatment options and research 14:22 Surgical procedures explained 16:19 Advances in robotic surgery 17:32 Nurse navigators and multidisciplinary care 20:48 Can pancreatic cancer be prevented? 21:43 How Project Purple supports research and patients 23:22 Early results from the screening program 24:36 Finding precancerous pancreatic lesions 25:06 Screening criteria continue to evolve 26:46 Closing remarks Join us for our next Walk to Wellness educational seminar at Westfarms Mall, the first Tuesday of every month. Learn more at https://hartfordhealthcare.org/events. #HartfordHealthCare #PancreaticCancer #CancerScreening