| This morning I watched the March 13, 2008 video of | | | | researchers want to work on heavily, funded projects. |
| Dr. Randy Pausch sitting before Congress. You may | | | | They want to make certain that their in-depth studies |
| know him as the professor of computer science at | | | | will continue. |
| Carnegie Mellon. His last lecture video that was made | | | | Another problem is lack of advocates. As Dr. Pausch |
| famous by "youtube" has had over 6 million hits since | | | | reminded us, pancreatic cancer patients don't last long. |
| he gave it in September of 2007. | | | | There isn't much time for them to get their own affairs |
| I have been following Dr. Pausch's progress in his | | | | in order, let alone advocate for funds. I'm positive his |
| inspirational fight against this dreaded disease, | | | | wife Jai will do all she can to continue his fight for |
| pancreatic cancer. This cancer doesn't care that he | | | | funding, but even then her time will be limited with the |
| never smoked, drank or is an avid exerciser. This | | | | demands of raising 3 young children . |
| cancer doesn't care that he is only 47, a brilliant | | | | Tomorrow, March 22nd will be the anniversary of my |
| professor and has three young children ages 6, 4, and | | | | own fathers death due to this hideous disease. My |
| almost 2 who will be fatherless before the end of this | | | | time of lamenting hasn't ended. In the four years of my |
| year. | | | | fathers passing "nothing" has changed. After hearing |
| Dr. Pausch spoke before Congress, bravely describing | | | | Dr. Pausch's speech before Congress today, I was |
| the need for more funding for pancreatic research. I | | | | saddened to learn "nothing" has changed in the past 30 |
| watched as the panel attentively listened to his | | | | years. Pancreatic cancer is still the least funded and |
| testimony. I was reminded of the statement, "If the | | | | most deadliest form of cancer. |
| Congressional Panel put down their blackberry's and | | | | Several questions come to my mind when I think of |
| actually listened, it was a good sign." Was Congress | | | | the lack of funding given to these very neglected |
| attentive to Dr. Pausch's testimony because of his | | | | patients. Are they medically not profitable enough? |
| new found "youtube" celebrity status? We'll never | | | | When my father was diagnosed, he was told to go |
| know, but I hope that they continue to give everyone | | | | home and get his things in order. My parents had |
| testifying before them, the same proper courtesy. | | | | discussed the option of chemotherapy with their |
| Pancreatic cancer is the most deadliest form of | | | | Doctor and although it might have given him a little |
| cancer with the least NCI funding. Less then 1% of the | | | | more time, he chose not to have this treatment. You |
| National Cancer Institutes 4.8 billion dollars on cancer | | | | can imagine the lack of compassion felt, when he |
| research is given to fight this disease. With 75% of | | | | received several phone calls from the oncologist office |
| pancreatic cancer patients dying from this disease in | | | | wanting to set up his chemotherapy sessions. The |
| less then one year, why is it so under funded? | | | | nurse became absolutely irate when my mother |
| My thoughts on this matter bring me to some humbling | | | | declined to make the appointments. I can't help but |
| opinions. Brilliant researchers are diligently working to | | | | wonder if my father had "No" health insurance, if the |
| find cures. I will use St. Jude's Hospital as an example. | | | | oncologist would have been so eager for him to be |
| The cure rate for the childhood cancer, acute | | | | scheduled. |
| lymphoblastic leukemia was 4% survival rate in 1962. | | | | In closing I pray that Congress will not repeat the same |
| Today they are looking at an 80% survival rate, on this | | | | injustices that had been placed on those "now |
| once "universally fatal" disease. That would never | | | | deceased patients." No matter what our government |
| have been possible without those researchers being | | | | might think, nobody is immune from this disease and it |
| heavily funded. | | | | could easily happen to them or one of their own. As it |
| When dealing with pancreatic cancer, there is little to | | | | stands now it will continue to be a round robin, no win |
| no incentives to research this cancer. Junior | | | | situation. With lack of funding, researchers are just not |
| researchers with their smart, brilliant minds want to | | | | interested in tackling this mountain and without |
| make a big difference in this world. Working on | | | | researchers the next 30 years look just as grim for |
| projects that are barely funded, just isn't something | | | | the pancreatic cancer patient as in the past. |
| most researchers want to commit to. Smart | | | | |