Recently, several major TV networks teamed together for Stand Up to Cancer, which accelerates groundbreaking research through donations and collaboration among scientists who specialize in particular areas.
One area where some progress is being made is pancreatic cancer research, but more still needs to be done. Pancreatic cancer is the fourth-leading cause of cancer death in the United States, yet receives only 2 percent of the National Cancer Institute’s federal research funding.
There is no early detection method and no cure. It has the lowest survival rate among the top 10 cancer killers – 94 percent of pancreatic cancer patients will die within five years of diagnosis; only 6 percent will survive more than five years.
November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month. I would like to thank the many counties and towns in New Jersey who recognize the need to raise awareness and funds to fight this deadly disease by proclaiming November Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month and reading such proclamations at their meetings.
New Jersey leads the nation in collecting proclamations for the second year in a row. Locally, I was honored to accept proclamations at the Monmouth County freeholders meeting, Freehold Township, Marlboro and Manalapan. Howell and Monroe Township submitted proclamations in response to my request as well.
In addition, to mark this occasion, the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network will be sponsoring the state’s first PurpleStride New Jersey walk on Nov. 7 at the Mack Cali Business Complex in Parsippany. Registration is free. Please go to www.purplestride.org for more information or send an email to Nicole at NTrella@pancanvolunteer. org.
Be a hero in the fight against pancreatic cancer. Show your support with a purple awareness ribbon. Contact www.pancan.org for more information. Know it. Fight it. End it.
Jill Rothstein
Freehold Township