For over 22 years pancreatica.org has provided current, credible, and comprehensive information to those in need.
Cancer Patient’s Alliance is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. All donations are tax-deductible.

94% of all revenue goes towards our programs, with only 6% towards MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL EXPENSES.

In many cultures, stories have been told out loud and handed down for centuries, from one generation to the next, in order to communicate and preserve the significant. In the telling of those stories, there is respect and honor accorded to those who speak. For those who listen, there is an implied stewardship… the responsibility to receive, embrace, respond, learn, and pass on what they’ve heard.

We hope you’ll feel that too, in these tales – whether you have your own connection to pancreatic cancer, or just want to be inspired and humbled – and reminded – about our daily problems. And about the triumph of the human spirit.

 

If you consider your journey a source of inspiration and are interested in sharing, please contact us at info@pancreatica.org

Pancreatic Cancer Stories of Life and Hope

After hearing that someone you care about has pancreatic cancer, one of the first things you confront is the reality of statistics. But there are long-term survivors. They do exist – and often thrive. And their stories are important beacons of hope for others confronting this serious foe.

In her book, There’s No Place Like Hope, “terminal” cancer survivor Vickie Girard observes, “I have often thought of cancer as the schoolyard bully … the mere thought of him can send people running. But all it takes to diminish his power is for a couple of people to stand up to him. That’s what a cancer success story does – it stares down the bully.”

Such is the long operating principle of Cancer Patients Alliance and the Pancreatica resource. The aim from the outset has been to shine a hopeful and informational light at this disease. It is also the motivation of the stories of inspiration page on this site. And, as the personal accounts here will attest, it is the meaningful goal for these long-term survivors too, as they transform their private challenges into social good.

Due to the self-selective nature of those who feel moved to tell personal stories and why, there are often recurring themes. Multi-generational families tell stories to bequeath history and values to their children. Founders of organizations tell them to transmit their original visions in hopes that those will live on. Military veterans do so because they finally have enough distance from their wars that they feel ready to speak about them. Patterns always emerge. Threads intertwine.

For this particular series, we wanted (primarily) to help people share the details of their exceptional medical journeys. We know what clinical factors make pancreatic cancer survival more likely: overall age and good health, early diagnosis, tumor location, eligibility for surgery, world-class hospitals, skilled doctors. Most (but not all) of our initial interviewees had many (but not all) of those things going for them. But so do many people who still aren’t so lucky. We wondered whether there were also other, non-medical situations or attributes that these survivors would turn out to have in common.

There were. And they’re not news bulletins. But they do leap off the page as you read these stories. Positivity. Indomitability. Spirituality. Appreciation of the little things. A craving for information. Continuing things they love doing. Not taking no for an answer. Strong, devoted and ever-present caregivers. Hope in the face of (what often seems) no hope. And humor, always humor. One survivor has had this magnet on his refrigerator since the very beginning: I plan to live forever. So far, so good.

And even now – when it seems that the hard part may be over, and the coast clear:

All have an impassioned, downright mission-driven determination to share their experience with people who are taking this journey after them. To continue helping others.

And – they share a certain thankfulness for the experience they’ve been through. As one wife and caregiver put it, “there was a special sweetness and richness about that time, as we were forced to focus only on each other for a change, and to talk and reflect about what really mattered.”

Most of our fundraisers, supporters, and volunteers, have been in one way or another, personally effected by this disease. We want to acknowledge what hardships you may have gone through (or are currently facing) and sincerely thank you for visiting our site!

Join us in our effort to fight pancreatic cancer. Donations go directly to promoting awareness, increasing education, furthering pancreatic cancer research aimed at early diagnosis and, helping patients and families impacted by the effects of pancreatic cancer. All Donations are tax-deductible. 

Join our expanding Pancreatic Cancer Community on Facebook! Connect with others, share stories, and get support! Click Here to Join!

Making IMPACT for Pancreatic Cancer Together!

MONTHLY MEMORIAL GIFTS:
Support Pancreatic Cancer Research!

Regular giving can be an opportunity to pay tribute in honour of a loved one. Your monthly gift will go directly to promoting awareness, increasing education, furthering pancreatic cancer research aimed at early diagnosis and, helping patients and families impacted by the effects of pancreatic cancer.

Simply select “Monthly” after choosing the amount you would like to give.

Cancer Patients Alliance is a 501(c)(3) non-profit. Initiatives include, ToFightCancer.com and Pancreatica.org. All Donations are tax-deductible.

Pancreatic cancer is expected to become the 2nd leading cause of cancer-related death by the year 2020. There are many reasons why the outcome for pancreatic cancer patients is much bleaker than for most other cancer types. There are no reliable methods to detect the disease early, and there are very few effective treatment options.

There remains a dire need for more research and an increase in focused funding for pancreatic cancer. Your Donation will go directly to promoting awareness, increasing education, and furthering pancreatic cancer research aimed at early diagnosis.

This year an estimated 57,600 Americans will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Approximately 47,050 Americans are expected to die from the disease. There are many reasons why the outcome for pancreatic cancer patients is bleaker than for most other cancer types. There are no reliable methods to detect the disease early, and there are very few effective treatment options. Which is why we are so focused on supporting research for early diagnosis.

Together with You our Mission is to promote awareness, increase education, and further pancreatic cancer research aimed at early diagnosis.

 

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