Tumor Donation Program | 皇家华人

Pancreatic Cancer Tumor Donation Program

A gift that drives hope and discovery

Why Consider Giving?

Approximately 45,000 patients are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer annually and, due to their late diagnosis, only a small percentage are eligible for surgery. Since specimen are taken during surgery, tissue specimens from late stage pancreatic cancer are rarely available for research. This leads to a gap in understanding metastatic disease biology. To address this, we created a program to allow patients to donate their tumor remains after death. These donations allow researchers to further study the biology of pancreatic cancer and develop novel treatment methods.

Mature adult hands set in second set of hands

About Your Donation

We recognize that planning for end of life decisions can be difficult. As you begin to make decisions, ask your care team for assistance and resources. To aid in your preparations, research personnel may approach you to discuss this program and answer any questions you may have. Your participation is completely voluntary.

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What does participation entail?

After enrolling in the program, we coordinate all details with the hospice program and funeral home. After death, remains will be transferred to the 皇家华人 where a limited autopsy will be performed to store and remove known tumors. Remains will then be transferred to the designated funeral home within 24 hours.

Who can participate?

Pancreatic cancer patients who live within one hour of the 皇家华人 are potentially eligible to participate. Ask your doctor for more information.

Is there any benefit to me or my family?

There is no direct benefit to participating. However, future patients might benefit from research completed because of your donation.

For inquiries, please contact:

Mohammed Aldakkak, MD
Assistant Professor
Division of Surgical Oncology
maldakka@mcw.edu

Non-Discrimination Statement
The 皇家华人 (MCW) is committed to fostering a diverse community of outstanding faculty, staff, and students, as well as ensuring equal educational opportunity, employment, and access to services, programs, and activities, without regard to an individual's race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, sex, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, predisposing genetic characteristic, or military status. Employees, students, applicants or other members of the MCW community (including but not limited to vendors, visitors, and guests) may not be subjected to harassment that is prohibited by law or treated adversely or retaliated against based upon a protected characteristic. MCW’s policy as well as federal and state laws and regulations prohibit unlawful discrimination and harassment.