In an effort to raise awareness in Monmouth County, the Board of Freeholders issued a proclamation at its Oct. 25 regular meeting declaring November as Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month.
The proclamation was presented to Jill Rothstein of Freehold Township, who is a volunteer with the national organization Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and lost her father to pancreatic cancer in 2008. The freeholders welcomed Rothstein back for the ninth time as a recipient of the proclamation, according to a proclamation.
“There has been an increase in pancreatic cancer deaths compared to all of the other major cancers. In fact, pancreatic cancer moved up to the third deadliest cancer in 2017. Based on the current trend, it is expected to become the second deadliest by 2020, with only lung cancer taking more lives,” Rothstein said. “The goal is to bring awareness and get the ball rolling so everyone will be wearing purple to represent pancreatic cancer for the entire month of November.”
“Currently, there is no cure for pancreatic cancer and when symptoms present themselves, it is usually too late for an optimistic prognosis, with the average life expectancy of those diagnosed at three to six months,” Freeholder Director Thomas A. Arnone said. “This is why it is crucial we raise funds to continue research and find a cure.”
Arnone and state Assemblyman Eric Houghtaling (D-Monmouth) co-founded the Pound the Pavement for Purple 5K Walk/Run, which raised more than $50,000, an all-time high, in its fifth annual race on Oct. 6, according to the press release.
Proceeds from the walk/run support the Lustgarten Foundation, a foundation dedicated to advancing research related to the diagnosis, treatment, cure and prevention of pancreatic cancer in addition to providing information to patients and caregivers, according to the press release.
Arnone honored the 2018 Pound the Pavement for Purple committee members for their commitment to raising awareness of pancreatic cancer.
“This is by far the most dedicated group of people working for such a great cause,” he said.