Despite the fact that pancreatic cancer has the #1 fatality rate of all cancers, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) only spent 1% of our countries $4.8 billion dollar cancer budget towards research in the year 2007. This cancer is the #4 cancer killer in the United States amongst men and women. There is no effective early detection and minimal treatment options.
I first became aware of just how deadly this cancer was when I heard on the radio in April of 1991, that actor Michael Landon had been diagnosed with it. He looked healthy on The Johnny Carson Show and I was positive he would be alright. I was wrong and three months later on July 1,1991 he died at age 54.
In late January of 2004 this disease hit me on a more personal note, when my father was diagnosed. You can imagine all of our shock when he was told there was nothing that could be done. Despite the fact that we took him to one of the finest Medical University's in the United States he was given no treatment options. He was diagnosed Stage IV and was told to go home and get his things in order. On March 22, 2004 my father passed away from pancreatic cancer, just seven short weeks after being told.
The statistics for this disease are miserable. In 2002 approximately 30,700 people were diagnosed in the United States with 30,000 of them dying. That same year 33.1 million dollars was spent by the NCI on it's research. That was 0.8 of 1% of their 4.176 billion dollar budget. When broken down that represents a mere $1,092 per patient. That amount towards research is the lowest of any leading cancer despite the fact that pancreatic cancer is the deadliest of them all.
Fast track four years into 2006 and you will find the same sad statistics. In that year approximately 37,170 people were diagnosed in the U.S. with roughly 36,000 dying of the disease. The NCI spent 66.7 million dollars on research for that year, but that still is only 1% of the NCI's 4.8 billion dollar cancer research budget.
More funding has to be allocated for any possible cure to this disease .With 1 out of 3 women and 1 out of 2 men being diagnosed with some form of cancer in their lifetime we should all be concerned. Cancer does not discriminate. It doesn't care if you are Kimberly's father or a famous "Movie Star". As I was saddened to hear just this morning that Patrick Swayze was recently diagnosed with this disease. Below, I have listed some recognizable names who have lost their battle with pancreatic cancer.
Luciano Pavarotti (Opera Star)
Brock Peters (Actor) "To Kill a Mockingbird"
M. Scott Peck (Writer/Psychiatrist) "The Road Less Traveled"
Richard Crenna (Actor) "Rambo"
Benjamin Orr (Singer/Guitarist) "Cars"
Clifton Fadiman (Writer/Host) helped found "Book of the Month Club"
Harry Blackstone Jr. (Magician)
Diana Lewis (Actress) "Go West Cry Havoc"
Michael Landon (Actor) "Bonanza and Little House on the Prairie"
Fred Gwynne (Actor/Author) "Herman Munster (The Munster's)"
Vince Edwards (Actor) "Ben Casey"
Bill Hicks (Comedian)
Frank Herbert (Author) "Created Dune Series"
Billy Carter (President Jimmy Carter's Brother) "Billy Beer"
Brian Daley (Author) "The Han Solo Adventures"
Steve James (Actor) "American Ninja"
Marcello Mastroianni (Actor) "Divozio"
John Sylvester White (Actor) Mr. Woodman "Welcome Back Kotter"
Juliet Prowse (Actress)
Jack Benny (Actor/ Comedian)
Donna Reed (Actress) "It's a Wonderful Life"
Fernando Lamas (Actor)
Dizzy Gillespie (Musician)
Henry Mancini (Composer)
Harvey Martin (Dallas Cowboy Defensive End)
Richard Mulligan (Actor) "Soap and Empty Nest"
Tom Poston (Actor) "Bob Newhart Show"
Alan Bates (English Actor) "Winner of 2 Tony Awards"
Roger Marshultz (Photographer) "Images of Young Elvis"
Gareth Hunt (Actor) "The New Avengers"
Sir Reginald "Rex" Carey Harrison "Academy & Tony Award Winner"
Kimberly enjoys studying numerology, astrology, love compatibility charts and experimenting with herbal remedies. She is an advocate for more funding from the NCI for pancreatic cancer research and she has operated her own canine stylist business for the past 10 years. Her interests also include studying little known "plant foods" that induce natural weight loss and also studying a little known herb that naturally curbs the cravings for alcohol .
The author of this article has chosen to make this article available with free reprint rights. Click here to copy this article.
» left by jamespkrehbiel from scottsdale, az (1 year 224 days ago.)
Kimberly,
I had been wanting to know how M. Scott Peck died. How did you get that information? Now we have Patrick Swayze with this horrible cancer. Thanks for bring this need to our attention. Respond to this comment
» left by Kimberly(527) Kimberly (1 year 224 days ago.)
James,
I found the information under his website. mscottpeck
Sorry, I couldn't send with URL Click under Biography Respond to this comment
Was this article helpful to you? Leave a Public Comment or Question:
Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional
or organization.
