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