Too Many Lights Gone Too Soon
Topic: Announcement, Hide on Homepage, Your Source for Breaking News & Inspirational Stories
What You Need to Know About Pancreatic Cancer
Too many lights have gone out too soon. The recent passing of Michael “D’Angelo” Archer, and before him, Congressman John Lewis, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, actor Patrick Swayze, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, and television legend Alex Trebek, underscores a painful truth: pancreatic cancer spares no one.
These extraordinary individuals inspired millions. Their losses remind us why progress in pancreatic cancer research cannot wait and why awareness, research, and advocacy are our most powerful tools against a disease that is far too often diagnosed too late.
What You Need to Know
Pancreatic cancer is often called the “silent killer” because symptoms can be vague and easily mistaken for other conditions. But knowing what to watch for can save lives.
Be alert to:
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)
- Abdominal or back pain
- Unexplained weight loss or loss of appetite
- New-onset diabetes
- Digestive changes, nausea, or light-colored stools
- Persistent fatigue
If you notice these symptoms, especially with a family history of pancreatic cancer or pancreatitis, talk to your doctor. Early detection offers the best chance for effective treatment.
Why It Matters
In 2025, an estimated 67,440 Americans will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and nearly 52,000 will die from it. It represents just 3% of all new cancer cases but more than 8% of all cancer deaths.
At the Lustgarten Foundation, we refuse to accept these odds. As the largest private funder of pancreatic cancer research, we are driving bold, collaborative science to detect the disease earlier, develop better therapies, and ultimately, transform pancreatic cancer into a curable disease.
What You Can Do
- Learn and share the signs and symptoms – awareness saves lives.
- Support research that drives earlier detection and better treatments.
- Stand Up For Science. Join us in protecting vital federal research funding and ensuring that scientific progress continues uninterrupted.
- Honor every life lost by fueling the discoveries that will save the next one.
As we remember and honor those gone too soon, we remain steadfast in our vision of a future where pancreatic cancer is a treatable, beatable disease.