Pancreatic Cancer Needs Tools for Early Detection

For several years in the 1960s, offensive lineman Sam DeLuca served as one of the key protectors for New York Jets star quarterback Joe Namath.  On September 13, 2011, the former captain of the New York Jets, didn’t have much to defend him in what has been a losing battle for so many – battling pancreatic cancer.

Unfortunately, this year alone more than 44,000 people will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and what’s worse is nearly 38,000 will die.  In fact, 74 percent of patients die within the first year of diagnosis and the five year survival rate is just 6 percent because there are no early detection tools and few effective treatments for this disease. Despite these statistics, pancreatic cancer is the least funded among leading cancer killers in our country with just 2 percent of the National Cancer Institute’s research budget dedicated to pancreatic cancer.

Nearly 10 years ago, I lost my father to pancreatic cancer just one year after diagnosis.  To honor him and so many others who have been affected by this disease, I volunteer for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and will be participating in our Second Annual PurpleStride 5k Walk/Run (www.purplestride.org) at the Mack Cali Complex in Parsippany on Nov. 6th and will be involved in one of 45 national PurpleLight Vigil for Hope events across the country on November 20th. 

Together, we can make a difference.

Todd Cohen, Edison, NJ
New Jersey Affiliate Media Representative
Pancreatic Cancer Action Network