LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Governor David A. Paterson to
proclaim November 2009, as Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month in the
State of New York

WHEREAS, The State of New York takes great pride in participating in
months designated to raise awareness of important issues; and
WHEREAS, November 2009 will be observed as Pancreatic Cancer Awareness
Month to create awareness of pancreatic cancer, the fourth-leading cause
of cancer death of men and women in the United States; and
WHEREAS, While representing less than 2 percent of cancer diagnoses
per year, pancreatic cancer accounts for 5 percent of yearly fatalities
from cancer; and
WHEREAS, Every year over 37,000 people will be diagnosed and over
34,000 people will die of pancreatic cancer in the United States; that
means one in every 75 men and women born today will be diagnosed with
pancreatic cancer in their lifetime and over 2000 New York residents
yearly will die from the disease; and
WHEREAS, 75 percent of pancreatic cancer patients die within the first
year of their diagnosis and only five percent survive more than five
years, making pancreatic cancer the deadliest of any cancer; and
WHEREAS, There has been no significant improvement in survival rates
in the last 25 years and pancreatic cancer research is still in the
earliest scientific stages; and
WHEREAS, When symptoms of pancreatic cancer generally present them-
selves, it is too late for an optimistic prognosis, and the average
survival rate of those diagnosed with metastasis disease is only three
to six months; and
WHEREAS, People of Jewish and African American descent are diagnosed
at a higher frequency than the rest of the population; and
WHEREAS, Additional risk factors include but are not limited to: smok-
ing, obesity, genetic disorders that heighten the risk for cancer, fami-
ly history of pancreatic cancer and pancreatitis; and
WHEREAS, Pancreatic cancer research is currently severely underfunded
as compared to other cancers with similar mortality; it is urgent that
we focus on this matter; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor David A. Paterson to proclaim November 2009 as
Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month in the State of New York, and to urge
its citizens to educate themselves about pancreatic cancer and the need
for research funding, early detection methods, effective treatments, and
prevention programs; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to The Honorable David A. Paterson, Governor of the State of New
York.