Senator Patterson offered the following resolution:

            Senator Patterson offered the following resolution:

            Senate Resolution No.            Senate Resolution No. 184.

A resolution

Ddeclaring the month of November 2010 as “Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month” in the sState of Michigan.

WHEREASWhereas, iIn 2010, an estimated 43,140 people will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the United States, and 36,800 will die from the disease; and

WHEREASWhereas, pPancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest cancers and is the fourth- leading cause of cancer death in the United States; and

WHEREASWhereas, wWhen symptoms of pancreatic cancer present themselves, it is usually too late for an optimistic prognosis, and 75 percent of pancreatic cancer patients die within the first year of their diagnosis, while 94 percent of pancreatic cancer patients die within the first five years; and

WHEREASWhereas, iIncidence of pancreatic cancer is approximately 50 percent higher in African Americans than in other ethnic groups; and

WHEREASWhereas, aApproximately 1,330 deaths occurred in Michigan; and

WHEREASWhereas, tThere is no cure for pancreatic cancer, and there have been no significant improvements in survival rates in the last 40 years; and

WHEREASWhereas, tThe Ffederal Ggovernment invests significantly less money in pancreatic cancer research than it does in any of the other leading cancer killers,; and pancreatic cancer research constitutes only 2 percent of the National Cancer Institute’s federal research funding, a figure far too low given the severity of the disease, its mortality rate, and how little is known about how to arrest it; and

WHEREASWhereas, tThe Pancreatic Cancer Action Network is the first and only national patient advocacy organization that serves the pancreatic cancer community in Michigan and  and nationwide. by This alliance focusesing its efforts on public policy, research funding, patient services, and public awareness and education related to developing effective treatments and a cure for pancreatic cancer; and

WHEREASWhereas, tThe Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and its affiliates in Michigan support those patients currently battling pancreatic cancer, as well as to those who have lost their lives to the disease, and are committed to nothing less than a cure; and

WHEREASWhereas, tThe good health and well-being of the residents of Michigan are enhanced as a direct result of increased awareness about pancreatic cancer and research into early detection, causes, and effective treatments; now, therefore,e be it

RESOLVEDResolved by the Senate, tThat the Michigan Senatewe hereby designate the month of November, 2010 as “Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month” in Michigan; and be it further

            Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.

 with our highest esteem.