Loma Linda Recognizes National Pancreatic Awareness Month

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, is applauding community leaders in the City of Loma Linda for introducing a proclamation recognizing November as National Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month and drawing attention to the need for research funding for early detection tools and effective treatment options for patients. “The Orange County Affiliate of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network would like to thank the leaders in the City of Loma Linda for recognizing November as National Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month,” stated Steve Vargas, volunteer. Vargas’s mother Mary was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2002 after doctors discovered a cancerous tumor on her pancreas. Prior to her diagnosis, Mary had experienced weight loss, yellowing of her skin and eyes and severe abdominal pain. Mary battled with pancreatic cancer until she passed away on June 17, 2005. Vargas made a promise to his mom that he would do anything he could to help those still fighting, and his family continues to volunteer with the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. 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 rates 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. Thanks to broad bi-partisan and bi-cameral support from Congress, the Recalcitrant Cancer Research Act, formerly the Pancreatic Cancer Research & Education Act, was signed into law Jan. 2 as part of the National Defense Authorization Act. The bill calls on the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to develop scientific frameworks that will help provide the strategic direction and guidance needed to make true progress against recalcitrant or deadly cancers, starting with pancreatic and lung cancers. “Although this is a step in the right direction, our work is far from over. The alarming statistics call for aggressive measures before incidence dramatically increases, but NCI funding is falling dangerously behind. In fact the NCI budget was recently cut by 5.8 percent, largely as a result of sequestration. We cannot hope to have success in diseases like pancreatic cancer, or leverage opportunities that come out of the scientific framework developed as a result of the bill passage if cuts like these continue,” stated Vargas.