In the years since I lost my father, I have met other survivors and family members like me who have been affected by Pancreatic Cancer. We have become our own family, and we each play a role in shining the spotlight on this disease and lighting the way to hope. More than 80 communities across the nation host PurpleLight events, helping to turn the country purple and shine light on our cause. When the sun goes down, we remember and honor all those impacted by Pancreatic Cancer (the fighters, the survivors, and the ones we have lost). PurpleLight events take place in either fall or spring, depending on location, and help bring year-round awareness to our shared goal of doubling pancreatic cancer survival by 2020.
Each venue offers a guest speaker, an information table, luminaries, and a chance to share our story with each other. As day turns to night, the name of a loved one is read aloud, and a glow stick is cracked. The glow of light represents their story. The mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, grandparents, cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends. Cracking the glow stick gives us the chance to remember and honor that person silently. It’s also a time where I silently promise to continue my fight against this deadly cancer, which was recently moved from the fourth to the third leading cause of all cancer deaths.
After the ceremony is over, folks are encouraged to visit the tables and engage each other. It’s during this time, where I meet people impacted and looking for options and hope. We are then able to refer them to “Patient Central,” a free no cost to the patient service where they can receive personalized information on: clinical trials, treatment options, specialized medicine service, and get involved in our “SCN” Survivor and Caregiver Network, where you can be connected to someone who is on the same path. You can share your story and journey, knowing you aren’t alone.
Those of us impacted by Pancreatic Cancer are part of a club that no one wants to join. We didn’t ask for this and many of us didn’t know too much about it. A common denominator, Pancreatic Cancer, brought us together. Together we will wage hope and change the course of this disease. In my years involved as a volunteer, I have seen the 5-year survival rate increase from 6% to 8%. The power in numbers is working. However, we know the fight we have ahead of us, and we will continue forging ahead.
Help spread awareness & sport some new clothes:
http://pancan.inkminded.com/
For more information, including how you can get involved:
https://www.pancan.org/
– See another article in Our Thoughts entitled “Who are the Purple People”
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