Dear Editor,
Pancreatic cancer has the lowest survival rate of all the cancers tracked by the American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) that still has a five-year survival rate in the single digits (6%). There are no early detection tools and no effective treatments. Despite these facts, the federal government has no long-term comprehensive research strategy to combat pancreatic cancer.
My own dear mother, Gena May Holland, age 68, was diagnosed on March 2, 2009 with this painful and devastating disease and died on May 22, 2009.
You may think “at least she didn’t suffer very long.” You would be wrong.
The best way to fight this disease and change the status quo is to pass the Pancreatic Cancer Research & Education Act (S. 362/H.R. 733). The bill would require the NCI to develop a long-term comprehensive strategic plan to combat the disease. Unfortunately, our very own members of Congress have not yet signed on to this critical legislation.
I would encourage everyone to join me and thousands of other pancreatic cancer advocates from across the country on June 14 for a National Call-In to Congress asking that they co-sponsor the Pancreatic Cancer Research & Education Act. Go to www.knowitfightitendit.org to learn more.
Together, we can make a difference in the fight against pancreatic cancer.
Sincerely,
Gena Holland Stretch
Tahlequah, Okla.