Rickman's Legacy
- Alan Rickman was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in August 2015 following a stroke; the actor passed soon after in January 2016.
- Many of Rickman’s films stand the test of time, particularly his “Christmas-y” movies like Love Actually and Die Hard.
- Early detection of pancreatic cancer is critical for treating the disease.
Actor Alan Rickman died of pancreatic cancer in 2016, but many of us will still see his face this holiday season in classic Christmas movies. There is debate as to whether Die Hard is actually a Christmas movie — but no debate about romantic comedy Love Actually. Either way, Rickman is bound to be on your screens at some point this December.
Related: Candid Diaries Alan Rickman Kept for 25 Years Being Turned Into a Book; The Actor Passed from Pancreatic Cancer in 2016
Arguably the most “Christmas-y” of the two films is Love Actually which takes places in London and follows various love stories of many characters, including Rickman, and also Hugh Grant, who is a pancreatic cancer advocate.
Rickman’s Pancreatic Cancer
Rickman had a stroke in August 2015, which led him to seek medical care. Following the stroke, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The cancer progressed quickly, and Rickman passed months later in January 2016. He was only 69.
Related: Pancreatic Cancer Treatment Just Became a Lot More Accessible; New Platform Is Designed to Test Multiple Therapies at the Same Time
The American Cancer Society (ACS) says that this year, approximately 57,600 people will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The disease has a slightly higher rate of occurrence in men than in women. Risk factors for pancreatic cancer that can be changed include tobacco use, being overweight, diabetes, and inflammation of the pancreas (which is typically caused from smoking or alcohol consumption).
Challenges to Screening for Pancreatic Cancer
Early Detection of Pancreatic Cancer
Pancreatic cancer is often an aggressive disease, so early detection of it is crucial. Dr. Anirban Maitra, Co-Leader of the Pancreatic Cancer Moon Shot at MD Anderson Cancer Center, said in an earlier interview, “Because the pancreas is inside the abdomen, it often doesn’t have symptoms that would tell you that something is wrong with your pancreas. By the time individuals walk into the clinic with symptoms like jaundice, weight loss, back pain, or diabetes, it’s often very late in the stage of the disease.”
Related: Mourning “Jeopardy” Host Alex Trebek After His Death From Pancreatic Cancer– Millions of Cancer Patients Were Inspired By His Courage
When the disease is detected earlier, however, a wider number of treatment options may exist. “Each year in the United States, about 53,000 patients get pancreatic cancer,” said Dr. Maitra. “And unfortunately, most will die from this disease within a few months to a year or so from the diagnosis. And the reason for that is that most individuals, about 80%, will actually present with what we called advanced disease, which means that the cancer has either spread beyond the pancreas or into other organs like the liver, and so you cannot take it out with surgeries.”
Detecting Pancreatic Cancer Early Is Crucial
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
Rickman's Legacy
- Alan Rickman was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in August 2015 following a stroke; the actor passed soon after in January 2016.
- Many of Rickman’s films stand the test of time, particularly his “Christmas-y” movies like Love Actually and Die Hard.
- Early detection of pancreatic cancer is critical for treating the disease.
Actor
Alan Rickman died of
pancreatic cancer in 2016, but many of us will still see his face this holiday season in classic Christmas movies. There is debate as to whether
Die Hard is actually a Christmas movie — but no debate about romantic comedy
Love Actually. Either way, Rickman is bound to be on your screens at some point this December.
Related: Candid Diaries Alan Rickman Kept for 25 Years Being Turned Into a Book; The Actor Passed from Pancreatic Cancer in 2016
Read More
Arguably the most “Christmas-y” of the two films is
Love Actually which takes places in London and follows various love stories of many characters, including Rickman, and also
Hugh Grant, who is a
pancreatic cancer advocate.
Rickman’s Pancreatic Cancer
Rickman had a stroke in August 2015, which led him to seek medical care. Following the stroke, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The cancer progressed quickly, and Rickman passed months later in January 2016. He was only 69.
Related: Pancreatic Cancer Treatment Just Became a Lot More Accessible; New Platform Is Designed to Test Multiple Therapies at the Same Time
The American Cancer Society (ACS) says that this year, approximately 57,600 people will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The disease has a slightly higher rate of occurrence in men than in women. Risk factors for pancreatic cancer that can be changed include tobacco use, being overweight, diabetes, and inflammation of the pancreas (which is typically caused from smoking or alcohol consumption).
Challenges to Screening for Pancreatic Cancer
Early Detection of Pancreatic Cancer
Pancreatic cancer is often an aggressive disease, so early detection of it is crucial. Dr. Anirban Maitra, Co-Leader of the Pancreatic Cancer Moon Shot at MD Anderson Cancer Center, said in an earlier interview, “Because the pancreas is inside the abdomen, it often doesn’t have symptoms that would tell you that something is wrong with your pancreas. By the time individuals walk into the clinic with symptoms like jaundice, weight loss, back pain, or diabetes, it’s often very late in the stage of the disease.”
Related: Mourning “Jeopardy” Host Alex Trebek After His Death From Pancreatic Cancer– Millions of Cancer Patients Were Inspired By His Courage
When the disease is detected earlier, however, a wider number of treatment options may exist. “Each year in the United States, about 53,000 patients get pancreatic cancer,” said Dr. Maitra. “And unfortunately, most will die from this disease within a few months to a year or so from the diagnosis. And the reason for that is that most individuals, about 80%, will actually present with what we called advanced disease, which means that the cancer has either spread beyond the pancreas or into other organs like the liver, and so you cannot take it out with surgeries.”
Detecting Pancreatic Cancer Early Is Crucial
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
