Pancreatic Cancer Takes Many Lives Too Soon

Legendary co-founder of Apple Steve Jobs lost his hard-fought battle Wednesday against the deadly disease of pancreatic cancer. Jobs was an inspiration to many around the world, and especially to others who are living with this devastating illness.

Jobs was initially diagnosed back in 2004 with a rare form of the cancer: He had a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor. With 75 percent of people dying less than a year after diagnosis and 94 percent within five years, Jobs was able to fight a courageous battle for seven years before succumbing in the end.

Unfortunately, pancreatic cancer has a poor diagnosis even when caught early. Prevention of this usually fatal disease is a much better option than treatment after the fact.

Some risk factors can not be controlled, such as increasing age, race (there are higher rates in black people), and family history. There are several actions you can take that will decrease your risk of pancreatic cancer, including not smoking, maintaining an ideal weight, and preventing diabetes through a healthy lifestyle.

Actor Patrick Swayze died of pancreatic cancer a little over two years ago at the young age of 57. Though Swayze kept his body in shape for his acting roles, he was also known to be a heavy smoker and even continued to smoke after his diagnosis.

Twenty years ago we lost Michael Landon to the disease. He was the beloved actor who played Little Joe on "Bonanza," Pa on "Little House on the Prairie," and was an angel on "Highway to Heaven." Landon was also a smoker.

The disease doesn't play favorites, and can also take people who don't smoke. Jobs may have had other risk factors in developing pancreatic cancer, as he was not known to smoke cigarettes, at least later in life.

Gene Upshaw, the Hall of Fame Oakland Raiders guard, died of pancreatic cancer back in 2008. The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, was diagnosed with the disease at the end of 2010.

It's a scary disease, and perhaps one that, in the future, will have a cure. Knowing that Jobs had the financial resources and connections to fight the strongest battle he possibly could, and still came out on the losing end, makes us realize how precious life is and how quickly it can be taken away.