When Gretchen Oltman scheduled a mammogram in fall 2024, she wasn’t worried. She felt fine. That routine visit set off a chain of events that would change her life – and ultimately lead her to advocate for others facing the same uncertainty she once felt.

Most pancreatic cysts are found incidentally during a CT scan or MRI done for another reason. The reason pancreatic cysts cause concern is that some types have a small risk of turning into cancer over time.

Pancreatic cancer is considered rare, with an estimated 67,440 new cases diagnosed in the U.S. in 2024. Even so, it is the third-leading cause of cancer-related death in the U.S.

Current research shows that pancreatic cancer can indeed cause diabetes. Although the link between the two diseases is complex, ongoing studies help provide insights that could improve detection and treatment.

When Pattie Wojtkiewicz started experiencing back pain in early 2017, she brushed it off as a muscle issue. But after persistent prodding from a close friend, Wojtkiewicz finally saw a physician assistant – a decision that would ultimately save her life.

A class act. A true professional. The nicest person you'd ever want to meet. Those are just a few of the ways people describe the voice of the Huskers, Greg Sharpe. Even in the face of a pancreatic cancer diagnosis, he's taken the time to share his thoughts on the care he's received.

There is no symptom which is specific to pancreatic cancer and many patients do not develop any symptoms of the disease. Pancreatic cancer can be found by chance on tests done for other reasons

Pancreatic cancer is a tough disease to beat, with only 11.5% of patients surviving more than five years. But Nebraska Medicine researchers are working hard to find new ways to boost survival.

When Kim Bate went to an appointment with his family physician in October 2018, he didn't consider the worst-case scenario. Bate had a rash, but nothing too extreme. Still, when Kim's doctor informed him that he believed Kim had an undiagnosed cancer and they'd need to run more tests, it wasn't a complete surprise.

A recent study showed rates of pancreatic cancer in women under age 55 rose 2.4% between 2001 and 2018. In May, E-News correspondent Maria Menounos, 44, revealed she was diagnosed with a rare form of pancreatic cancer earlier in the year, a high-profile case that seems to reflect the study’s disturbing trend.