Pancreatic Cancer Action Network

Dear Friend: My name is Lisa Niemi Swayze. I lost my husband, Patrick, to pancreatic cancer. I’ve experienced a lot in my life as a dancer, actress, director, and wife. But the experience that had the most profound effect on me was our fight against pancreatic cancer and Patrick’s heroic effort to beat the disease. Patrick was an amazing and passionate man, an incredible actor and a beautiful dancer. He was also kind, caring and adventurous. He lived each day to its fullest–even after we received the devastating news that he was diagnosed with stage IV pancreatic cancer. He refused to take his diagnosis as a death sentence. Instead, Patrick chose to fight and continue to do the things he loved–spending time with family and friends, working and providing a living example of the need to fight this terrible disease. Patrick understood that part of battling pancreatic cancer was to take up the fight on behalf of everyone who has it or anyone who might get it. Throughout his illness, he spoke publicly of his determination and inspired so many to fight on. A year ago today, Patrick lost his battle against pancreatic cancer at the young age of 57. I’m writing to ask you to continue his fight because Patrick was one of the tens of thousands of people each year who battle against this disease armed with little more than courage. Very little is known about pancreatic cancer; There is no early detection method and few effective treatments are available to increase the odds of survival. That’s what makes the struggle for those who face the disease heroic–a courageous fight against the odds. The 5-year survival rate for a pancreatic cancer diagnosis is just 6 percent; it is the only one of the top-ten cancer killers that has a five-year survival rate still in the single digits. What makes this shocking statistic even more frightening is that it hasn’t changed in nearly 40 years. And that is something that needs to change. We can all be heroes in the fight against pancreatic cancer by helping to change those odds. We can save lives, support patients and create hope by increasing awareness and research funding into the cause, prevention and treatment of pancreatic cancer. I am continuing Patrick’s fight by joining the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network in an ongoing nationwide effort to know, fight and end pancreatic cancer. That’s why I’m telling my story today–and we want to hear yours. We’re asking people like you to become heroes in the fight against pancreatic cancer. We are asking those who have been touched by this devastating disease to tell others about their heroic fight. The more people know about pancreatic cancer, the more they’ll understand the need to fight it with us. We’re also asking people to demand increased federal research funding dedicated to finding a cure for pancreatic cancer while at the same time helping us raise more private research dollars. It’s this kind of increased research effort that changed the odds for people with heart disease, diabetes, and breast and colon cancer. Working together, I know we can beat pancreatic cancer. Join us today. Go to www.knowitfightitendit.org and learn about what you can do to save lives. Take heroic action by urging federal policymakers to back a death-defying research strategy dedicated to knowing, fighting and ending pancreatic cancer and find out about the other things that you can do to be a hero. Go to the website and watch my video, then share your own story. Patrick often played a hero in his films and television shows. He was a real-life hero to me, our family, friends, and beloved by so many. He knew that true heroes are everyday folks–those who rise above their own pain and grief to make a difference in the lives of others. You can be one of them. Please join me and the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network in becoming a hero in the fight against pancreatic cancer. Go to www.knowitenditfightit.org today, watch my video, hear my story–and then tell us yours. Thank you for your support and heroic action, Lisa Niemi Swayze Pancreatic Cancer Action Network