PANCREATIC CANCER

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Pancreatic cancer is the third leading cause of death in the United States and the 11th most commonly diagnosed cancer among Americans, recently taking the life of Jeopardy host Alex Trebek. South Florida resident Michael Fitzpatrick is a 20-year survivor of the disease, which is a rarity for a cancer that typically has a five-year survival rate. On Thursday, designated World Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Day, Fitzpatrick launched a 26-mile walk from Boca Raton to the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood in an effort to raise money to help fund research for better treatments to fight the disease. “I’m going to be honoring them through my walk.”Over 95 affiliates of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network in 35 countries around the world are participating in events to mark this day to continue to raise awareness. Even once vaccinated, a quarter of those surveyed believe it will still take one to two years before things return to normal.