Europe, Minnesota Europe, Minnesota ADVERTISING Size comparison On Sept. 14, John Spitzenberger stated in his letter that Europe is about the size Minnesota and France is about the size of Minneapolis/St. Paul. In square miles we have: Europe at 3.8
Europe, Minnesota
Size comparison
On Sept. 14, John Spitzenberger stated in his letter that Europe is about the size Minnesota and France is about the size of Minneapolis/St. Paul. In square miles we have: Europe at 3.8 million, Minnesota at 86,943 and France at 211,208.
Just saying.
Betsy Burroughs
Kailua-Kona
Pancreatic cancer
Support measure
Imagine being diagnosed with a disease that would likely take your life in a year or less. Unfortunately, this is the reality for those diagnosed with pancreatic cancer as 74 percent of patients die within one year of diagnosis. Sadly, the disease has a five-year survival rate in the single digits of just 6 percent, the lowest among major cancers.
What is worse is there has been little progress in detecting and treating pancreatic cancer. Since the passage of the National Cancer Act more than 40 years ago, the five-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer has only improved from 2 to 6 percent. By comparison, the 5-year survival rate for all cancers currently stands at an impressive 67 percent.
Pancreatic cancer is unique and requires specific action.
The disease is so deadly because there are no early detection methods to diagnose the disease in its early stages and there are no effective treatment options to treat the disease once it’s been diagnosed.
My mother was stage four when her pancreatic cancer was diagnosed.
The amazing thing is this disease affects the healthy, active and fit people. Amazingly, she survived three years, nothing short of a miracle.
It was her goal to live until they found a cure. Sadly, this did not happen.
So now I am advocating for the 44,000 who will be diagnosed this year. They deserve a fighting chance.
Fortunately, there is hope. Congress is currently debating the Pancreatic Cancer Research & Education Act (S. 362/H.R.733), which would require the National Cancer Institute to create a long-term and comprehensive strategic plan to address pancreatic cancer, with the goal of improving early detection methods and developing new treatment options.
If Congress gets behind this bill, pancreatic cancer patients will finally have more options, and ultimately more hope.
Suzy Marshall
Waianae
