BRENDA WHITNEY

FREDERIKA - I am raising my voice during Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month. For too long pancreatic cancer has been ignored; it is the most under-funded, under-recognized and least-studied among leading cancer killers. Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death in our country, but receives less than 2 percent of federal cancer research funds. Further, pancreatic cancer deaths have increased, even in times when overall cancer death rates declined.

My story is one that is difficult, but important, to share. My dad, Tom Babcock, was a very healthy 64-year-old. He didn't have health issues. He watched his cholesterol, his blood pressure and exercised regularly. But who would have thought that in May 2008 he would lose his appetite and turn jaundice? That was our first sign something was wrong. He was diagnosed in May with pancreatic cancer and died on July 29, 2008. He loved life and loved his friends and family and would want nothing more than to find a cure for this horrible and deadly disease that is most often too late to cure once someone shows signs and symptoms. Most patients die within six months.

Join me and raise your voice during Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month. We must unite to make sure that the necessary funding to find the cure is made available and that our members of Congress are supporting initiatives, such as H.R. 7045 that would provide the necessary tools and resources to make true advances against this horrible disease.