November is arguably one of the best months of the year. It’s the middle ground between fall and winter, and the start of the holiday season. It’s just about the most warm and fuzzy time of the year, and a time filled with love, hope and peace. It makes sense then, that November is also Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, because those affected by this awful disease are in need of all of the love and hope that this world has to give. Pancreatic Cancer is an almost always fatal disease, and I’m willing to bet that at least one person you know has felt it’s effects. For this reason, and countless many more, it’s important to spread awareness as much as possible.
Pancreatic Cancer has the highest mortality rate of all of the major types of cancer, and over 50,000 Americans are diagnosed each year. Very few advancements have been made regarding treatment and diagnosis in the past forty years, and one of the reasons why the cancer is so fatal is because it is very difficult to detect. This is because many of the symptoms are very vague and can mimic symptoms of other illnesses.
How does it make sense then, that this disease that is so deadly and common, receives so little funding for research? Why is it that most people do not even know what Pancreatic Cancer is until it touches someone in their life? This exact thing happened to me. I had not even heard of it until two people in my life were victims of this horrid disease, both of which lost their lives to it. So every year when November rolls around, I make it a point to do everything that I can to spread awareness- I wear my purple ribbon, post on social media, and make sure that all of my friends and family know what this month is and what it means to me.
Personally, I’m tired of no progress. It’s about time that we figure out something that’s going to help the people affected by this disease, because 5% is way too low. 5% is an impossible number to face. I always tried to convince myself that my loved ones would be in the 5%, they had to be. But the brutal truth is that this disease doesn’t discriminate- not by age, gender, occupation, or even how good of a person someone is. Those livig with this disease are facing impossible odds, and that needs to change. Thousands upon thousands of people have lost their lives to this horrifying and deadly cancer, and there are still people who don’t know that it exists. Something has to be done.
I know what you’re probably thinking- “I’m only one person, what can I possibly do to make a difference?” I can tell you this. You are one person, but I know the impact that one person can have because my pastor was one of these people. The whole time that he was sick, he never gave up, never lost faith, and kept fighting until the very last day. For him and the countless others who are currently fighting this disease, and those who have lost their battles, do whatever you can to spread awareness. Wear a purple ribbon or purple clothes, post on facebook, tell all of your friends and family, make a donation to help towards finding a cure. One small act can change a life, and when it comes to this disease, every little bit helps. I think it’s about time that we raise that 5% to something a heck of a lot higher.
For more information about Pancreatic Cancer, and how to donate to the cause, visit www.pancan.org
