Pancreatic Cancer Awareness
On November 17, people and organizations from all over the world united to bring global attention to pancreatic cancer. Generating awareness is critical to raising vital funds for research that will lead to more treatment options for patients. More than 62,000 Americans will be diagnosed with this disease this year, and it is important to recognize the symptoms early. The pancreas is an organ located deep in the abdomen, between the stomach and the spine. It is responsible for secreting proteins into the bloodstream and into other tissues. It also releases digestive juices to the small intestine in addition to producing insulin. Pancreatic cancer begins when abnormal cells in the pancreas grow out of control and form a tumor. Sadly, pancreatic cancer has the highest mortality rate of all major cancers. It is the third leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States. The five year survival rate is 8%. Knowing the symptoms and recognizing them can be
