With the holiday season upon us, I am taking time to reflect on the year gone by and what has affected my life greatly — pancreatic cancer.
On June 3, 2010, my dad was diagnosed with Stage Four pancreatic cancer. Since then, I have quickly become aware of the devastating statistics associated with this deadly and underfunded cancer. As I walked my dad hand-in-hand onto the survivor stage at a fundraising event to be recognized, I knew at that moment I had to become an advocate.
My dad decided last week to end treatments as his body can no longer handle it. I will never stop fighting in his honor and for all those touched by pancreatic cancer.
Sadly, many families will spend this holiday season remembering a loved one lost to pancreatic cancer. But my hope is in the years to come more loved ones will be around to share memories during the holiday season and throughout the year. We must work together to make this a reality and ensure real progress is made against this devastating disease.
Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the U.S., and the only one of the top 10 cancer killers with a five-year survival rate still in the single digits — and the survival rate hasn’t significantly changed in almost 40 years.
I will continue the fight against pancreatic cancer in 2011 and until there is significant progress towards an increased survival rate. I invite you to join me in the fight. Go to www.knowitfightitendit.org to learn how you can be a hero in the fight against this devastating disease.
Letter: Support Pancreatic Cancer Research
On June 3, 2010, my dad was diagnosed with Stage Four pancreatic cancer. Since then, I have quickly become aware of the devastating statistics associated with this deadly and underfunded cancer. As I walked my dad hand-in-hand onto the survivor stage at a fundraising event to be recognized, I knew at that moment I had to become an advocate.
My dad decided last week to end treatments as his body can no longer handle it. I will never stop fighting in his honor and for all those touched by pancreatic cancer.
Sadly, many families will spend this holiday season remembering a loved one lost to pancreatic cancer. But my hope is in the years to come more loved ones will be around to share memories during the holiday season and throughout the year. We must work together to make this a reality and ensure real progress is made against this devastating disease.
Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the U.S., and the only one of the top 10 cancer killers with a five-year survival rate still in the single digits — and the survival rate hasn’t significantly changed in almost 40 years.
I will continue the fight against pancreatic cancer in 2011 and until there is significant progress towards an increased survival rate. I invite you to join me in the fight. Go to www.knowitfightitendit.org to learn how you can be a hero in the fight against this devastating disease.
Dana Quinn