FANCY FARM, KY - 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 is the only major cancer with a five-year relative survival rate in the single digits, at just six percent.

What is worse is that there has been little progress in detecting and treating pancreatic cancer. Since the passage of the National Cancer Act over forty years ago, the five-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer has only improved from two to six percent. By comparison, the five-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.

Members of the Western Kentucky Pancreatic Cancer Action Network know the reality of pancreatic cancer, since all of them have lost a loved one, or know someone currently fighting the disease.

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.

At the 2012 Fancy Farm picnic a few of the volunteer/advocates here in Western Kentucky had the opportunity to personally thank Congressman Ed Whitfield for being a cosponsor of the House bill of the Pancreatic Cancer Research & Education Act.

If Congress passes this bill, pancreatic cancer patients will finally have more options, and ultimately more hope. For more information about the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network www.pancan.org