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Recognizing November 2012 as Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month.
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WHEREAS, Pancreatic cancer will afflict more than 44,000 people in the United States in 2012. Seventy five percent of those diagnosed will die within one year. Ninety four percent die within five years of diagnosis; and
WHEREAS, Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the United States and is also the deadliest, with the lowest survival rate of any major cancer. Furthermore, there has been little improvement in the survival rates over the last forty years; and
WHEREAS, Of all the racial and ethnic groups in the Unites States, African-Americans have the highest incidence rate of pancreatic cancer, between thirty four and sixty seven percent higher than other groups; and
WHEREAS, The disease is often diagnosed in late stages because of the pancreas' location deep in the body, the absence of definitive symptoms and the lack of good early detection methods. More than half of the patients are diagnosed when the disease has advanced and already spread to other organs; and
WHEREAS, The United States House of Representatives unanimously passed the Recalcitrant Cancer Research Act (H.R. 733) on September 19, 2012. The bill requires the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to create a long-term plan for pancreatic and other recalcitrant cancers that includes evaluating its current efforts in the disease and making recommendations on ways to accelerate progress and improve outcomes; and
WHEREAS, The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network is the national organization creating hope in a comprehensive way through research, patient support, community outreach and advocacy for a cure. The organization is leading the way to increase the survival rate for people diagnosed with this devastating disease through a bold initiative — The Vision of Progress: Double the Pancreatic Cancer Survival Rate by 2020. They fight to seek an end to pancreatic cancer by intensifying efforts to heighten awareness, raise funds for comprehensive private research, and advocate for dedicated federal research funding to advance early diagnostics, better treatments and increase chances of survival; now therefore
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby declare November 2012 as Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month in the City of Philadelphia.
RESOLVED FURTHER, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network for their outstanding efforts in bringing attention to the fight against pancreatic cancer, as evidence of the respect and appreciation of this legislative body.
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