By Khalida Sarwari
It was a sad day. Most will remember Oct. 5, 2011, as the day Steve Jobs, the legendary co-founder of Apple, died at the age of 56 of respiratory arrest brought on by a pancreatic tumor. Pancreatic cancer also claimed the life of actor Patrick Swayze, who succumbed to the disease nearly a year and a half after he was diagnosed.
Despite causing the death of two prominent figures and being the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, not much research has been done about the disease due to lack of funding, according to an advocacy coordinator for the Silicon Valley affiliate of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. Known also as PanCan, the national nonprofit group provides support for people fighting the disease.
“It’s a dreadful cancer, and the reason that the survival rate is so poor is because we don’t know much about it, and that’s because not much research has been done,” said Diane Borrison. “Unfortunately for pancreatic cancer, [patients] are just not strong enough during their treatment to do the same speaking out that other types of cancer survivors do.”
Borrison, herself a survivor, became involved with the Bay Area affiliate of PanCan after she was diagnosed with the disease about six years ago and realized the need for more research and information. The group offers support and educational services for patients and caregivers through counseling provided by trained health care professionals.
“It’s a passionate group that really believes we can make a change in the course of this disease,” said Borrison.
As part of the counseling service, patients are mailed free packets with information about the cancer, as well as nutrition and diet tips.
“Depending upon what the need is, we have professional counselors who can help people through that journey,” Borrison said.
In June, Borrison will travel to Washington, D.C., to encourage lawmakers to sign the Pancreatic Cancer Research and Education Act into law, a bill that would direct the National Cancer Institute to develop a specific plan for pancreatic cancer. The organization devotes only 2 percent of cancer research funds to pancreatic cancer, Borrison said.
PanCan will hold a meeting at the Campbell Library on May 22 for anyone interested in helping with that effort. The meeting will take place in the community room at 6:30 p.m.
Another meeting will be held on June 13 at the same time and place that will focus on planning for PanCan’s first Silicon Valley PurpleStride fundraiser. The event, which includes a walk and a timed run, is scheduled to take place on Nov. 3 in front of the Children’s Discovery Museum in San Jose. All funds raised will go toward research, advocacy and patient services. For more information, visit www.purplestride.org.
Starting in July, the group will hold monthly meetings at the Samaritan Cancer Center in San Jose.
On June 9, PanCan will host its 10th annual Walk Through the Vineyards benefit at the historic Charles Krug Winery in St. Helena. More information about the event is available atwww.vineyardwalk.com.
