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(20.11.2025) The Medical Center - University of Freiburg draws attention to pancreatic cancer with purple lighting on World Pancreatic Cancer Day.

Around 21,000 people in Germany are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer every year. A disease that can go unnoticed for a long time and is therefore often only recognized at an advanced stage. To mark World Pancreatic Cancer Day on Thursday, November 20, 2025, the Medical Center - University of Freiburg is sending out a visible signal: In the evening, the building of the Interdisciplinary Tumor Center (ITZ) will be lit up in purple, the international campaign color for pancreatic cancer.

Better chances of recovery through early treatment

"Today, our Interdisciplinary Tumor Center shines in purple. We want to draw attention to the thousands of people affected every year and at the same time remind them that treatment is getting better and better," says Prof. Dr. Stefan Fichtner-Feigl, Medical Director of the Department of General and Visceral Surgery and Director of the Comprehensive Cancer Center Freiburg - CCCF at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg. "The earlier patients receive the right treatment, the better the chances of beating pancreatic cancer."

Treatment options and care at the center

Pancreatic cancer is often discovered late. Indications can include yellowing of the eyes, unexplained weight loss, new onset of diabetes, but also back pain. The Pancreatic Cancer Center is part of the Comprehensive Cancer Center Freiburg - CCCF at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg and is certified by the German Cancer Society. Here, minimally invasive and robotic procedures are combined with chemotherapy and radiotherapy as required. Supporting services such as nutritional therapy and psycho-oncology complement the care provided.

Highly complex surgery requires a lot of experience

"The surgical removal of the tumor is so complex because the pancreas borders on many large, important vessels and organs," explains Dr. Sophia Chikhladze, who heads the Pancreatic Cancer Center at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg together with Dr. Dietrich Ruess. "In addition to the affected part of the pancreas, the duodenum, gallbladder, bile duct and surrounding lymph nodes must first be removed and then reconnected," Chikhladze continues. "In difficult cases, the operation often takes six to seven hours and requires very good teamwork from everyone involved. Robotic-assisted operations and open operations with vascular replacement are regularly used," adds Ruess.

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