A Call to Action on Pancreatic Cancer Research Funding

The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network is calling on citizens to talk to their Congressional Representatives about HR-745.

"In order to meet with a representative, we need at least one constituent at the meeting," said Terri Nabozny, volunteer and Fort Worth (Texas) Affiliate advocacy coordinator of the group. "Jeffrey, our Dallas affiliate coordinator, is working on setting up meetings with Ralph Hall and Michael Burgess."

The bill, known as the Pancreatic Cancer Research and Education Act, cites that very little research funds are allocated towards the disease, according to writer Donna Thacker. (http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2410654/hr_745_the_pancreatic_cancer_research.html?cat=5). "The bill is asking, among other things, that there be more public and physician awareness of pancreatic cancer."

Nabozny said the Network has done "an amazing job" getting co-sponsors for the bill which was in the first phases of the legislative process in November.

For more information, call 817-692-8798.

In other related news, McClatchey-Tribune Information Services reports that there are six ways to protect yourself against pancreatic cancer and says the illness is the top five leading cancers in the country, is extremely aggressive, and surprisingly more than 250,000 people die of it worldwide.

Some of the ways to avoid the disease, according to a press release from Cancer Compass include abstaining from hard liquor, alcohol, cigarettes, soda, foods that contain HCFS or high fructose corn syrup, non-stick pots, soft plastics containing phthalates like teething rings and water bottles, and animal and trans fats. The literature also stated that the herb curcumin may benefit people with pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer.

Every day, an average of 116 people are diagnosed with the disease, according to pancan.org.

"Pancreatic cancer is affecting more and more people each year," said Julie Fleshman, president and CEO of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network in a mass email. "As the list of people facing pancreatic cancer grows, so will the list of people fighting on their behalf."

Virginia Griffin, volunteer Fort Worth Affiliate coordinator of the Network, lost a brother, niece, friends, and last year, a cousin to the disease, five weeks after she was diagnosed.

"A very difficult year," said Griffin. "I appreciate our affiliate volunteers for all their efforts, absolutely awesome."

On Oct. 28, it was reported that 396 participants in the DFW Purple Stride 2009, one of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network fundraisers, raised over $90,400. Two weeks before that participants successfully recruited 114 people and brought in $34,754. (Source: Natalie Radtke).