Whereas, Pancreatic cancer is the deadliest cancer and the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States; and,

Whereas, Seven-five percent of pancreatic cancer patients die within the first year of their diagnosis and 95 percent of pancreatic cancer patients die within the first five years; and,

Whereas, There is no cure for pancreatic cancer, and there have been no significant improvements in early detection, treatment methods, or survival rates in the last 30 years; and,

Whereas, When symptoms of pancreatic cancer present themselves, it is usually too late for an optimistic prognosis, and the average life expectancy of those diagnosed with metastasis disease is only three to six months; and,

Whereas, Incidence of pancreatic cancer is 20 to 30 percent higher in men than in women and 40 to 50 percent higher in African Americans than in other ethnic groups; and,

Whereas, The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network is the first and only national patient advocacy organization that serves the pancreatic cancer community in the state of Michigan and nationwide by focusing 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,

Whereas, The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and its affiliates in the state of 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;

Now, Therefore, be it Resolved, That I, Jennifer M. Granholm, governor of the state of Michigan, do hereby proclaim the month of November 2009 Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month in the state of Michigan. The health and well-being of the residents of the state of Michigan are enhanced as a direct result of increased awareness about pancreatic cancer and research into early detection, causes, and effective treatments.