Five months ago my friend Kerry's family received devastating news – her wonderful husband, Noel, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. What is it? How do you get it? What is the treatment? Why wasn’t he diagnosed earlier? All these questions received limited responses by their general physician. Kerry went online to research:
- In 2011 alone, over 44,000 people in the US and 8,085 in the UK will be diagnosed.
- In 2011, 37,660 in the US and 8,037 in the UK have died from this disease.
- Pancreatic cancer is the fifth most common cause of cancer death in the UK.
- Pancreatic cancer has the highest incident to mortality ratio of any disease.
Chemotherapy was the ONLY treatment available for Noel and made him sicker than the cancer. Why is there so little known about this cancer and why are there no early detection screens? One statistic states that in the UK, patients may exhibit symptoms up to 12 months prior to diagnosis!
Essentially, most scientists go where the funds are. Pancreatic Cancer Research is critically under funded. No money for research equals a lack of brilliant and innovative scientists knocking down the door to research this incredibly devastating disease.
Please join us on November 4th for a rousing virtual auction - see descriptions above OR if you're lucky enough to be in Northern Ireland, at Charlie’s Bar, 2 Campsie Road, Omagh for a night of FUNdraising all to benefit Pancreatic Cancer UK. Thank you!
Theresa, thank you so very much for coming up with this idea.... For making the time and for bearing the lion's share of this work... Every cent we raise takes us one step closer, maybe one family less who have to suffer... Thanks so very, very much! OOOOO
ReplyDeleteAre we bidding American $$$$ ????
ReplyDeleteLisa - please see directions.
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