Supporting Research into Oesophageal and Gastric Cancer

GASTROCAN (GRAMPIAN GASTRO-OESOPHAGEAL CANCER RESEARCH FUND) supports research to improve treatment for oesophageal and gastric cancer in NHS Grampian and The University of Aberdeen Medical School.

All funds donated to GASTROCAN are used to support local research efforts into this devastating disease, benefit local patients and enable the University of Aberdeen to lead national and international research projects.

GASTROCAN has been established by Dr Russell Petty, Consultant Medical Oncologist at NHS Grampian and a Clinical Senior Lecturer at the University of Aberdeen specialises in the treatment of gastro-oesophageal cancer. Dr Petty leads University and NHS Grampian Research into the causes and treatment of the disease and set up GASTROCAN at the University to further this research programme.

By supporting research GASTROCAN also aims to increase awareness of gastric and oesophageal cancer to help patients recognise the symptoms of the disease and know when to seek help.

The excellent facilities in NHS Grampian and the School of Medicine at the University of Aberdeen provide an ideal environment and resources for cancer research and the gastro-oesophageal cancer research programme utilising these facilities.

A key aim of all research is to ‘translate’ scientific breakthroughs in the understanding of cancer as a disease into more effective treatment for patients.

Gastric (stomach) and oesophageal (gullet) cancers are among the most devastating of all human diseases and unfortunately, they are amongst the rapidly rising types of cancer and rates in Scotland and are among the highest in the world. While advances have been made in treatment to control gastro-oesophageal cancer, cure rates remain low especially in comparison to other cancer types.

A patient with breast cancer has an eight out of 10 chance of completely beating the disease, compared with just one in10 gastro-oesophageal cancer patients. Accordingly, gastro-oesophageal cancer is seen as a priority area for medical research.