FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 22, 2008
Contact:  Erin Marsicano
(717) 787-3817
Back

Senate Adopts Waugh Resolution Designating November as Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month

HARRISBURG – State Senator Mike Waugh (R-York) has gained unanimous adoption of Senate Resolution 340, which designates the month of November as Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month in the state of Pennsylvania.

Pancreatic cancer is a rare form of cancer that has no early detection methods and is the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States.  More than 37,680 people will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer this year in the United States, and 34,290 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.

“Each year the number of pancreatic cancer patients grows, and each year we lose a large number of those individuals to this deadly disease,” said Waugh.  “But fortunately we have groups who are dedicated to advancing research of and bringing awareness to pancreatic cancer in order to reduce these numbers.”

The Pancreatic Cancer Network Association Inc. 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 Pancreatic Cancer Network Association advocates and cancer patients, Waugh has been proud to sponsor such a resolution in the Senate each year since 2000.