This year, over 42,000 Americans will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
More than 35,000 will die. The five year survival rate is less than 5 percent and has remained largely unchanged in the last 30 years because early detection tools and effective treatments have yet to be developed.
Despite these sobering statistics, less than 2 percent of the National Cancer Institute’s federal research funding is currently allocated to pancreatic cancer.
Issaquah’s Brenda Luper is all too familiar with the devastating effects of pancreatic cancer, having lost her mother to the disease in early 2008.
After doing all she could to cope with what was a very personal tragedy, Luper began to realize that there was a real need for the wider society to better understand the disease, if a cure was to be found, or effective support offered for sufferers.
“We lost my mom because there’s no early detection, and until there is public awareness there won’t be early detection” says Luper. “Quite frankly, with this disease we just don’t have time to waste.”
As a project manager, Luper is not one to sit idly by.
When she learned that there was no awareness walk for pancreatic cancer in the area, she decided to make one happen.
Luper’s vision is about to become a reality, with the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network to stage the Puget Sound region’s first Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Walk, in early November.
The 1-, 3-, and 5K walk to promote awareness and to raise funds for pancreatic cancer research will take place on Sunday, Nov. 1, at Bellevue College. Registration begins at 8 a.m and the walk begins at 9 a.m.
This community event, planned entirely by local volunteers, is open to everyone.
Registration costs $20 for adults, $10 for children between the ages of 3 and 12, and is free for children under 3 and pancreatic cancer survivors. For more information, or to register, visit www.pancan.org/pugetsound.
The walk begins in the courtyard of the Bellevue College campus at 3000 Landerholm Circle SE in Bellevue.
“I’m very stubborn and I’m not going to change my mind,” says Luper. “I’d really like to see this become an annual event.”
Pancreatic Cancer has the highest mortality among leading cancer killers and has claimed the lives of many public figures, including actor Patrick Swayze, former American Medical Association President Dr. Ron Davis, Carnegie Mellon University Professor Dr. Randy Pausch, actor Michael Landon, opera tenor Luciano Pavarotti, famed journalist Dith Pran, former ambassador to Bosnia Dick Sklar, and NFL Players Association President Gene Upshaw.
The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network is the only national organization creating hope in a comprehensive way through research, patient support, community outreach and advocacy for a cure.
