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Millburn Resident Leads Fight Against Pancreatic Cancer

Michael Weinstein is among hundreds who visited Washington to advocate for research funding.

Twenty-four percent of those diagnosed with pancreatic cancer survive at least 12 months. Just 6 percent last five years. The statistics for the nation's fourth leading cause of cancer death do not leave much room for hope to those afflicted.

When Millburn resident Michael Weinstein was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2005, his situation looked bleak. "When I was diagnosed it was like a death sentence," he said. "But my doctor said, 'Even if you're told you have a one in a million chance, you could still be that one.' That kept me going." Today, Weinstein can count himself as a part of that resilient 6 percent that have survived for over five years following their diagnosis.

When Weinstein was sick, he didn't know where to turn with his questions about his disease. When he and his wife discovered the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, it became the sounding board that they needed. At the same time, a Pancreatic Cancer Action Network affiliate started in New Jersey.

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"We immediately became involved when I was back on my feet," Weinstein said. "When my doctor told me not to give up, he used the phrase 'a one in a million chance.' If I was that one, that leaves an awful lot of people behind. Someone has to speak out, so that one by one, those other 999,999 will believe."

Weinstein has become Pancreatic Cancer Action Network's advocacy coordinator, serving as the organization's liaison to elected officials. Pancreatic Cancer Action Network raises money for research, provides services to patients and caregivers, and tries to educate and spread awareness of this terrible disease.

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Only 2 percent of federal funding from the National Cancer Institute is allocated to pancreatic cancer despite its devastating effects. As advocacy coordinator, Weinstein has been hard at work promoting new pancreatic cancer legislation. He is particularly excited about a new bill, the Pancreatic Cancer Research and Education Act, which is currently working its way through Congress. The bill would help increase funding and awareness for a disease that seems to fly under the radar.

"This bill is extremely important," Weinstein said. "This disease is so deadly because there are no early detection methods and limited treatment options. New ways to detect and treat pancreatic cancer need to be found."

Weinstein and his fellow Pancreatic Cancer Action Network members traveled to Washington D.C. for an advocacy day on June 21 in an effort to make their goals a reality. Over 400 volunteers from 49 different states conducted personal interviews and made calls to more than 300 congressmen.

"Being able to go to the capital and give back to those who never got the opportunity to speak for themselves because of this disease was so fulfilling," said Weinstein of his first time participating in the annual advocacy day. He was joined both by volunteers who lent their physical presence in D.C. and by other supporters who could not attend but participated in a "National Call-In."

One who could not attend advocacy day, but has lent his time and  support to the movement for pancreatic cancer awareness for the last five years is Pancreatic Cancer Action Network's media representative Todd Cohen. Cohen got involved with the organization shortly after his father was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2001.

"When we went to Sloan Kettering two months after his diagnosis to find an answer, there was a truly morbid atmosphere. The nurse told him he had three months to live. I never wanted to see other people have to go through that after experiencing it first-hand," explained Cohen. "We're starting to move in the right direction, though, with fundraising and education, with events like this."

The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network is certainly doing more than its part to move in the direction to which Cohen alludes. In addition to raising money for private research and advocating for federal funding, Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, "fills the void of information and options by giving patients and caregivers reliable, personalized information they need to make informed decisions," according to their advocacy day press release. "[They] create a sense of hope and community so no one has to face pancreatic cancer alone."

Even after their recent advocacy day by no means are Weinstein and Pancreatic Cancer Action Network sitting back. They are continuing to raise awareness with a series of upcoming events.

On Sunday, they will hold a Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Day at the Somerset Patriots baseball game at 5 p.m.. On Nov. 7 they will hold the first PurpleStride walk, a walk that aims to raise money for pancreatic cancer research, at the Mack Cali Campus in Parsippany.

Meanwhile, Weinstein will carefully be watching the progress of the Pancreatic Cancer Research and Education Act. "We are cautiously optimistic," he said. "At the same time, we are aware that we might have to start over. We'll have to wait and see."

Weinstein and Cohen will also continue looking for new volunteers and supporters. "With such a low survival rate, there aren't a lot of people left to advocate," said Cohen. "We're always in need of more volunteers."

To find out how you can get involved with Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, visit pancan.org. You can also e-mail Weinstein with any questions about pancreatic cancer at mweinstein@pancanvolunteer.org.

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