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World Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Day. 11-13-15


As the majority of you know, last September 2014 I lost my mom to Pancreatic Cancer.  She passed within 4 months of her diagnosis, because, well, she had been misdiagnosed, but let's be honest, only 6% of those who battle Pancreatic cancer will make it to the 5 year mark and that is the life expectancy.  What I haven't mentioned, is my soul sister that died from Breast Cancer this last June, the cancer had begun to attack her pancreas.  I don't think I need to say anything more about that.  It was still breast cancer, but you can see how testy and moody the pancreas is.

After my mama passed, I vowed that I would do what I can to help bring awareness to this terribly underfunded cancer research and, as Pancan.org says, WAGE HOPE.  Cancer in general is a bitch and it sucks, but everyone deserves a fighting chance and we can only make that happen by bringing awareness to this cause.

Tomorrow I will be walking in honor of my mom at the OC 2015 Pancreatic Cancer walk, because it isn't just about raising money, it's about raising awareness and shedding light on a cancer that is continually misdiagnosed, because the symptoms are so similar to other body ailments.  My mom was told she had IBS, I asked her to get a second opinion, but she chose not to, saying she had been to the doctor's twice and they know what they're doing.  I don't blame the medical profession, I blame the lack of knowledge that I admit even I had before my mom got sick.  Why didn't we pay more attention when Patrick Swayze died, or when Steve Job passed?  Because we felt bad for their families and moved on.

I recently saw an ad on TV with actors becoming involved in this cause and I say, it's about time.  The goal is to be able to give families a fighting chance and the way to do that is to spread the word.   My mother was a fighter and this cancer stole her spirit, so I will bear the torch for her and spread the word, so more families will have the chance that our ohana never had.  I will fight the fight for her.

Pancreatic Cancer Symptoms - Print this and share it.
Learn the symptoms, know them and understand them.  It's not to make you paranoid, because sometimes it is just gall stones or IBS, but wouldn't you rather be safe, than sorry?  Know the symptoms.

Spread the word. Spread the awareness.  WAGE HOPE.


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