Pancreatic Cancer Retreat Brings Together Researchers, Community

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On July 11, 2025, researchers and community members joined together for the first Pancreatic Cancer Retreat to explore the impact of this disease in South Texas.

The retreat, at UT Rio Grande Valley in South Texas, was a collaboration among the community outreach and engagement team (COE) and the community advisory board (CAB) at Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio, and the Canopy Cancer Collective, a nonprofit focused on pancreatic cancer.

At the event, clinicians, researchers, patient liaisons, and industry leaders had collaborative discussions on topics including clinical trials, tumor boards, biobanks, educational resources, and screening initiatives on pancreatic cancer.

Event participants from Mays Cancer Center included Dr. Lei Zheng, director, and Mary Jimenez, CAB chair.

“The meaningful exchanges from the retreat are fostering cross-disciplinary partnerships and are advancing the shared mission of improving pancreatic cancer care and outcomes for patients across South Texas,” said Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez, leader of the COE team at Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio.

Let’s look closer at pancreatic cancer and how it impacts our communities.

What Is Pancreatic Cancer?

The pancreas is a gland about 6 inches long between the stomach and the spine.

The pancreas has two main jobs in the body:

• to make juices that help break down food into substances the body can use
• to make hormones, such as insulin and glucagon, that help control blood sugar levels and help the body use and store the energy it gets from food

“Pancreatic cancer occurs when cancer cells form and grow within the pancreas. These tumors are hard to diagnose early, since pancreatic cancer signs and symptoms aren’t obvious,” according to the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. “Because of this, the majority of these cancers are diagnosed after the disease has reached an advanced stage, when treatment options are limited.”

Most pancreatic cancers start in the exocrine cells that line the ducts of the pancreas and are called pancreatic adenocarcinomas, MD Anderson states.

Pancreatic Cancer Risks and Symptoms

There are several symptoms one can experience with pancreatic cancer, including:

• Fatigue or abnormal physical weakness
• Jaundice and related symptoms
• Weight loss and poor appetite
• Belly or back pain
• Nausea and vomiting
• Gallbladder or liver enlargement
• Blood clots
• Diabetes

Risk factors include:

• Age (risk increases after age 55)
• Background and country of origin
• Family history (hereditary genetic changes account for 10% of pancreatic cancers)
• Obesity (risk increases by 20%).
• Diabetes
• Chronic pancreatitis

Other risk factors can include smoking and tobacco use. People who smoke are about twice as likely to develop pancreatic cancer.

How a Clinical Trial Can Help Fight Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer can hurt many of our abuelos, moms, dads, and others we love.

Clinical trials help us fight for our familia.

Clinical trials are studies that help researchers learn more to help slow, manage, and treat cancer for current and future family members. But without many volunteers for clinical trials, the benefits may miss people of different backgrounds.

Visit our clinical trials page to find a clinical trial, read about hero volunteers, and more!

“Volunteers in clinical trials are not only helping themselves, but they’re also building a future with better treatments that can help their families in the future,” said Ramirez said.

Those looking for opportunities based in San Antonio can search the Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio’s Find a Clinical Trial database to learn more about available clinical trials and eligibility requirements.

On a national level, visit clinicaltrials.gov to find a clinical trial near you.

FIND A CLINICAL TRIAL!