November is pancreatic cancer awareness month, and we wish to thank the following Capital Region leaders — Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings, Rensselaer Mayor Dan J. Dwyer and Schenectady Mayor Gary McCarthy — for supporting the cancer fight.
Pancreatic cancer will be diagnosed in nearly 44,000 patients nationwide in 2012, making it the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths.
Currently, no cure exists for pancreatic cancer, which claims 74 percent of its victims within a year of diagnosis. It is estimated some 2,400 New Yorkers will die from pancreatic cancer this year.
The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network serves to advance research, support patients and create hope for those affected by pancreatic cancer.
PCAN volunteers wear purple ribbons while they promote annual fundraising events such as www.purplestride.org and Cancer Awareness night at Citifield.
In September, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Recalcitrant Cancer Research Center Act, which requires the National Cancer Institute to create a long-term plan, referred to as a scientific framework, for pancreatic and other recalcitrant cancers that includes evaluating its current efforts in the disease and making recommendations on ways to accelerate progress and improve outcomes.
We must support our fellow citizens who have been afflicted by this disease and advocate for greater awareness and more resources to fight pancreatic cancer.
RUTH DIAMOND
Pancreatic Cancer
Action Network volunteer