Awareness Raises Pancreatic Cancer Hopes
“Pancreatic cancer research receives just one percent of the National Cancer Institute’s more than $4.8 billion budget and next year’s cancer funding is at risk,” said Dr. Syed Ahmed, a University of Cincinnati surgeon who specializes in treating pancreatic cancer. “A new bill introduced to the U.S. Senate calls for a mere 0.7 percent funding increase for the National Institutes of Health.”
Syed said and until we can make a substantial investment in pancreatic cancer research we will only make marginal progress.
But not only does it come as a surprise to most people that the less-publicized pancreatic cancer is as common as leukemia, the shocking truth is that pancreatic cancer has a higher fatality rate than all other cancers, according to a recent article.
“I urge the citizens across the United States to contact their senators and push for more research funding, improve pancreas cancer awareness by spreading the word to your family and friends, and get involved with community projects in your area,” he said. “Clearly there is a critical need for more effective drug treatments, early detection and intervention programs.”
The pancreas produces juices that help the body digest food and hormones that help control blood-sugar levels. Tucked deep in the abdomen, the pancreas is difficult to screen because pancreatic tumors cannot easily be felt or seen. If diagnosed early, the cancerous portion of the pancreas can be surgically removed and rerouted.
The Celebration on the Hill, a nationwide event to be held in Washington, D.C. is the American Cancer Society’s celebration of cancer survivorship and empowers Society volunteers to become a powerful force in the fight against cancer. The Society named 73 ambassadors to represent local communities across North Texas for the Sept. 19-20 event to engage members of Congress in the fight against cancer.
During the event ambassadors will meet with lawmakers to demand that Congress make cancer a national priority by boosting the federal commitment to cancer research and programs.
The federal government plays a critical role in reducing the cancer burden in this country.
Celebration on the Hill 2006 will harness the grassroots power found in 4,750 communities across the county that host Relay for Life events. Locally there are 25 Relays for Life in the Dallas/Fort Worth, TX area during the months of April, May, and June.
A Wall of Hope is making its way to all of the relays before traveling to our nation’s capitol.
Demonstrating the unity of the entire nation in the fight again cancer the wall will take up four city blocks of the National Mall.
