Approximately 33,730 Americans will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer this year and 32,300 people will die from it. Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of death among both American men and women. Pancreatic cancer has a 99% mortality rate-the highest of any cancer. The average life expectancy after diagnosis with metastatic disease is just 3-6 months.

Only 4% of pancreatic cancer patients survive beyond five years. Pancreatic cancer research is grossly under-funded. In fact, despite the especially lethal nature of this disease, only 1% of the National Cancer Institute's current budget is focused on pancreatic cancer research.

Yet, amid all of the sobering facts and statistics lies a promising stat: a precious 1 percent of people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer are surviving.

OUR FOCUS, OUR FIGHT AND OUR MISSION MUST BE ON INCREASING THIS NUMBER.