Steve Jobs died Wednesday of an unusual form of pancreatic cancer known as a neuroendocrine tumor or islet cell carcinoma. If he had suffered the most common form of pancreatic cancer, adenocarcinoma, the chances are he would have died soon after his 2003 diagnosis. In 2004, nine months after his diagnosis, Jobs underwent surgery to remove the tumor. In 2009 he underwent a liver transplant, a procedure appropriate for only a small number of patients with this uncommon form of pancreatic cancer. Patch received the following letter, which is particularly timely in light of Jobs' death.

Dear Patch,

November is National Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month and I am proud to say that I am raising awareness about the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the United States. It has been 40 years since the enactment of the 1971 National Cancer Act and over the past decade there has been significant improvement in overall cancer survival rates. Sadly pancreatic cancer survival rates are not reflected in this. In fact this insidious disease has seen an increase of cases and deaths since 1998 and remains the only cancer that still has a five-year survival rate in the single digits at six percent.

There are heroes in our community, along with myself, who are volunteering to make a difference in the outcome for those diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. We are fighting alongside the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, the national organization creating hope in a comprehensive way through research, patient support, community outreach and advocacy for a cure with a goal to double the pancreatic cancer survival rate by 2020. 

Just a year and a half ago, I lost my mother to pancreatic cancer just one and a half years after diagnosis. To honor her and so many others who have been affected by this disease, I volunteer for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and will be participating in our Second Annual PurpleStride 5k Walk/Run (www.purplestride.org) at the Mack Cali Complex in Parsippany on Nov. 6 and will be involved in one of 45 national PurpleLight Vigil for Hope events across the country on November 20. 

Now is the time to be a hero in the fight against pancreatic cancer and volunteer for progress. Please visit www.knowitfightitendit.org to find out how you can become involved.

Together we can make a difference.

Sincerely,

Kaitlin Shala