Orlando Health Cancer Institute launched the Pancreatic Cancer Multidisciplinary Clinic (PMDC), a new experience in the treatment of pancreatic cancer that will provide patients access to all of the resources they need at one site on a single day.
PMDC will be held weekly at Orlando Health Cancer Institute, giving pancreatic cancer patients a comprehensive visit in one day, including diagnostic imaging and lab work. The visit will include consultations with a team of medical, surgical, and/or radiation oncologists, palliative care specialists, gastrointestinal experts, nutritionists, geneticists, social workers, and others who will review the patient’s case, give a diagnosis, and discuss personalized treatment options.
“Research shows that multidisciplinary clinics improve patient outcomes, shorten the timeframe from diagnosis to treatment, increase access to care, and improve patient and caregiver satisfaction,” said Wasif Saif, MD, deputy director and department chair for hematology and oncology at Orlando Health Cancer Institute. “It sets the stage for a true team approach where our specialists work together to coordinate the evaluation and care of our patients.”
The American Cancer Society estimates more than 62,000 new cases of pancreatic cancer in 2022 and nearly 50,000 deaths from the disease. In Florida, more than 4,800 new cases are expected this year with 3,800 deaths. For all stages of pancreatic cancer combined, the one-year relative survival rate is 20%, and the five-year rate is 9%.
The PMDC at Orlando Health Cancer Institute is best suited for early-stage pancreatic cancer patients with no metastasis. It began seeing patients weekly on November 2, 2022. To schedule a visit, please call 321.841.1893, option 1.
Orlando Health, headquartered in Orlando, Florida, is a not-for-profit healthcare organization with $8.1 billion of assets under management that serves the southeastern United States.
