Ending pancreatic cancer

With the holiday season upon us, I am taking time to reflect on the year gone by and what has affected my life greatly -- pancreatic cancer.

My dad passed away Nov. 1, after fighting pancreatic cancer for 17 months. I miss him more and more every day. I wish people would realize how much more needs to be done to fight this cancer. My one holiday wish is that people would donate to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and help find a cure for this terrible disease. It's too late to help my dad, but there are many other people out there that need the help. Right now it's a death sentence, but maybe someday it doesn't have to be.

Sadly, many families will spend this holiday season remembering a loved one lost to pancreatic cancer. But my hope is in the years to come more loved ones will be around to share memories during the holiday season and throughout the year. We must work together to make this a reality and ensure that real progress is made against this devastating disease.

Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States, and it's the only one of the top 10 cancer-killers with a five-year survival rate still in the single digits -- a survival rate which hasn't significantly changed in nearly 40 years.

Go to www.knowitfightitendit.org to learn how you can be a hero in the fight against this devastating disease.

ASHLEY ELIZALDE, Cape Girardeau