FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 25, 2007
Contact:  Erin Marsicano
717-787-3817
Back

Senate Adopts Waugh Resolution Designating November as Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month

HARRISBURG – State Senator Mike Waugh is taking steps to bring a heightened awareness to pancreatic cancer, a form of cancer that has no early detection methods and which is the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States.

It is because of those and other concerns that Waugh has introduced a resolution to designate the month of November as Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month in the state of Pennsylvania.

"Everyday we hear about the advances being made to combat cancers such as breast, lung, and colon, among others.  However, pancreatic cancer has not reached that level, and people need to be more aware of it in general.  Hopefully, we will eventually see the same success with pancreatic cancer research and treatment that we have seen with the others," expressed the Senator.

More than 37,000 people will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer this year in the United States, and 99% of patients will die as a result of their cancer.  Average survival time after diagnosis is only three to six months, so once symptoms present themselves it is often too late for a positive turnaround.

The Pancreatic Cancer Network Association Inc. (PanCAN) is an organization determined to educate people, find early detection methods, and ultimately, find a cure for pancreatic cancer.  As part of their efforts each year they strive to establish designations of November as Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month in all 50 states. 

On behalf of the Central PA PanCAN advocates and cancer patients Waugh has been proud to sponsor such a resolution in the Senate each year since 2000.