Morris County Freeholders Proclaim November 13 as Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Day in Morris County

The Morris County Freeholders have declared Nov. 13 as Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Day in Morris County, with a goal of raising awareness of this deadly disease and raising public support for funding and research towards finding treatments and a cure.



Michael Weisnstein (left)
with Freeholder Director DeFillippo and Freeholder Mastrangelo



The county governing board issued the proclamation to Michael Weinstein, New Jersey Advocacy Chairman for the Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Network, in advance of Nov. 13 to help publicize the Nov. 8 PurpleStride 5K run and event at the Mack Cali Business Campus in Parsippany.    

“Unfortunately, the incidences of pancreatic cancer are increasing across our nation, and right here in our own county,’’ said Morris County Freeholder Director Kathy DeFillippo. “So, the freeholders would like to help shine the spotlight on this dreaded disease and to urge county residents to participate in the event on Nov. 8 to support those who have pancreatic cancer and to galvanize public support for more research and a cure.’’

“Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States and it is the only cancer with a five-year survival rate in the single digits, at just 7 percent,’’ Weinstein told the freeholders at the county governing board’s Oct. 28 meeting in Lincoln Park.

“We need to call attention to this disease and finally make progress in developing treatments and early prevention tools,’’ added Weinstein, who is a 10-year survivor of pancreatic cancer.

Here are some sobering facts about pancreatic cancer:

• It is the 4th leading cause of cancer deaths in our nation;
• Pancreatic cancer is projected to become the second leading cause of cancer deaths by 2020;
• The five-year survival rate—once a person is diagnosed – is just 7 percent;
• It will afflict more than 40,000 Americans in 2015 and 73 percent of them will die within one year;
• In 2015, an estimated 48,960 people will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the United States and 40,560 will die from the disease;
• 1,560 deaths due to pancreatic cancer will occur in New Jersey in 2015;
• Pancreatic cancer is the 7th most common cause of cancer-related death across the world;
• An estimated 367,000 new pancreatic cancer cases will be diagnosed globally in 2015;

When symptoms of pancreatic cancer present themselves, it is generally late stage, and 73 percent of pancreatic cancer patients die within the first year of their diagnosis, while 93 percent of pancreatic cancer patients die within the first five years. Weinstein said there are few symptoms. Many times pancreatic cancer is disguised as a common back or stomach ache.

“The good health and well-being of the residents of Morris County are enhanced as a direct result of increased awareness about pancreatic cancer and research into early detection, causes, and effective treatments,’’ said Freeholder Director DeFillippo.

For more information on pancreatic cancer, visit: http://www.cancer.org/cancer/pancreaticcancer/

PurpleStride is the signature annual nationwide event of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. Each year, in communities across the country, tens of thousands of people participate in more than fifty-six PurpleStride events, including PurpleStride New Jersey. These events are critical in raising awareness and funds that advance research and support patients and loved ones with a promise of a better tomorrow.

The Purple Stride NJ event in Parsippany is a family friendly event that will include a 5K run and separate walk that “will take participants on a journey filled with hope and inspiration’’ through the Mack-Cali Business Campus in Parsippany. It will include children’s entertainment and refreshments.

Opening ceremonies start at 9 a.m. and the 5K and walk begin at 9:30 a.m. For more information, visit: http://purplestride.kintera.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=1136431.