November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month.
Until March last year, I had very little understanding about pancreatic cancer. I even remember asking where the pancreas is and what it does. Since then, my family and I have been living and breathing everything pancreas.
In August this year, we lost my beautiful mother. She fought a very brave and very long battle against this horrible disease. So, we’ve decided it’s time to turn our world purple and hopefully make a difference!
Until high profile people such as Patrick Swayze, Steve Jobs, Ian Ross and Peter Harvey were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, awareness surrounding the disease was minimal.
Yet, more than 130 Australians die on average each week from pancreatic, liver, biliary and foregut cancer. Most succumb within six months of diagnosis.
Statistics:
- Pancreatic cancer has the highest mortality of all major cancers – less than 5% of patients reach the five-year survival mark.
- Survival rates for pancreatic cancer have not improved in more than 40 years and two-thirds of pancreatic cancer patients die within the first year of diagnosis.
- In 2014, it was expected that approximately 2890 Australians would be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
- By 2020, this is expected to rise to around 3460 Australians.
We are trying to change these statistics.
Thursday 13 November is World Pancreatic Cancer Day and we are asking Australia to pop on some purple, snap a picture and share it on social media, using the hashtag #purpleourworld to raise awareness for this horrible disease.
This is not about raising money; it’s about raising awareness and giving a voice to a silent killer.
We are hoping to show the decision-makers how many of us care, how many lives this prevalent disease has touched and that it’s time to stand up and do something.
We’re putting a bit of colour back into our world.
For all media enquires please contact:
Jessica Abelsohn
E: jessica.abelsohn@gmail.com
Ph: 0417 062 543
jessica abelsohn 