Tuesday, November 10, 2009

November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month

This month is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness month.

Learn The Facts:

Pancreatic cancer is the 4th leading cause of cancer death in the United States—and has the highest mortality rate of all the major cancers.

No early detection or screening exam is currently available for pancreatic cancer.
An estimated 76% of patients will die within one year of diagnosis. The five-year survival rate is less than 4%.

52% of patients are diagnosed with advanced disease that has already spread to other organs.

Since I have learned that my risk of developing pancreatic cancer increased two to three fold because a first-degree relative was diagnosed, I have made some healthier lifestyle changes. But, unlike other cancers, early detection options are not available for me. If I am ever diagnosed with this disease, chances are that it will be my death sentence.

This has to change.

More research is needed to know it, fight it, and end it:

Pancreatic cancer research is drastically under-funded and as a result, relatively few researchers are investigating the disease as compared with researchers focusing on breast cancer, colon cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, etc.

Less than 2% of the National Cancer Institute's budget is allocated to this leading killer.


In January, I will be running my second marathon and I've decided to take this opportunity to raise more money for Pancreatic Cancer Research. Through my first fundraising efforts, I was able to raise $3,650.00.

If you are interested in donating to my very personal cause, go here or click on my Firstgiving button to the right. This time around, I am not asking anyone to adopt miles, but only to donate. As little as $10 makes a difference in funding private research for tomorrow’s cures.

My mom has been gone for over two years now. Yet, whenever I hear of someone being diagnosed with this terrible disease, I am taken back to that winter's day when the realization of her prognosis hit me.

In honor of my mom's memory, please consider donating.

Thank you,
Sara

4 comments:

Kristy Treible said...

Good for you Sara! Can't wait to hear all about your next marathon! I know you will do great!

Paty said...

i lost my best friend to pancreatic cancer, at the age of 36. My mom just died of lung cancer last april, when I was 9 months pregnant, and 10K miles aways...i hate cancer...

Keri said...

So great for you to run for a cause! You go girl!!

Brooke said...

Run Sara!!! You are such an amazing person!