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Pancreatic Cancer Demands Focus

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 23, 2009

Like far too many Americans, U.S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite has seen the devastating results of pancreatic cancer. Her husband, Harvey, 68, died of the disease last summer.

The Brooksville-area resident has teamed with Anna Eshoo of California and three other representatives to introduce legislation that would launch a much-needed national campaign to stop pancreatic cancer from becoming an automatic death sentence.

An estimated 75 percent of these patients die within a year of diagnosis. It is the fourth-leading cause of cancer deaths in the country. A cure cannot be found without more research and commitment.

The Pancreatic Cancer Research and Education Act would establish a "Pancreatic Cancer Initiative" by increasing research, funding, clinical trials and the number of pancreatic cancer investigators. About $140 million would be appropriated in fiscal year 2010.

Raising the level of pancreatic-cancer awareness, as researchers, medical organizations and others did with breast cancer several years ago, is past due. It was only about eight years ago that the National Cancer Institute developed an action plan, but officials say only five of 39 recommendations have been implemented because of funding issues.

Actor Patrick Swayze, who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer a year ago, is publicly appealing for more federal funding instead of battling the disease in private. He has become an eloquent spokesman. U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg recently was diagnosed with the disease.

This legislation would give hope to people struggling with the disease and to the nearly 40,000 who will be diagnosed this year. It deserves strong bipartisan support.

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