City of Ritzville recognizes pancreatic cancer awareness

The Puget Sound of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, the national organization creating hope in a comprehensive way through research, patient support, community outreach and advocacy for a cure, applauds community leaders in Ritzville for introducing proclamations recognizing November as National Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month and drawing attention to the urgent need for research funding for early detection tools and effective treatment options for patients.

“The Puget Sound affiliate of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network would like to thank the leaders in Ritzville for recognizing November as National Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month,” said Maija Eerkes, volunteer Advocacy Coordinator for the affiliate. “With the continued support we will work towards increasing federal funding and local awareness for this terrible disease.”

Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Despite improved survival rates for many other forms of cancer, pancreatic cancer remains the only major cancer that still has a five-year relative survival rate in the single digits at six percent. The incidence and death rate for pancreatic cancer are increasing, and pancreatic cancer is anticipated to move from the fourth to the second leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. by 2020, and possibly as early as 2015.

Currently, research dedicated to pancreatic cancer receives approximately two percent of the federal dollars awarded by the NCI and there is no long-term and comprehensive strategy in place to improve survival.

The Recalcitrant Cancer Research Act (H.R. 733), formerly the Pancreatic Cancer Research & Education Act, will ensure that the NCI develops a comprehensive scientific framework for developing early diagnostics and treatment options that will increase the survival rate for pancreatic cancer and other recalcitrant cancer patients.

The bill was introduced in the Senate by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and in the House of Representatives by Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and Leonard Lance (R-NJ), and after receiving broad bipartisan support; the U.S. House of Representatives passed it on Sept. 19. It is essential to make research about pancreatic cancer a priority until real progress is made.

To learn more about the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network visit http://www.pancan.org.