Reader urges awareness of pancreatic cancer I t is estimated that 37,000 people will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer this year, with over 85 percent of those diagnosed typically dying within one year. Many advances have been made in treating and detecting other cancers, but unfortunately, there is less so for pancreatic. Another sad reality is there are so few survivors of pancreatic cancer that hardly anyone directly affected by it is left behind to advocate awareness for this disease. That is why loved ones of those victims need to share their experiences. My husband, Bernard T. Spigner lost his life six months ago after a very short battle with pancreatic cancer. The risk increases with age but there are high incidences of pancreatic cancer in men as well as in minority groups as African Americans. Overall, the disease respects no one, regardless of color, age or gender. Despite never having cancer in his immediate family, never a smoker or diabetic, my husband's life was cut short by this terrible disease. As a result, our 3-year old son's chance of getting pancreatic cancer went up from almost negligible to 50 percent. I am making it my mission to help educate families about this terrible illness so that they can make better choices - whether they are health, lifestyle or environment related - to help prevent this disease. Valuable information on pancreatic cancer can be found at the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network Web site at www.pancan.org, as well as at The Cancer Institute of New Jersey Web site at www.cinj.org. While November is National Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, this is a topic that we can't afford to limit to discussion for 30 days only. Too many lives depend on it. Let's get talking. Deborah M. Spigner Metuchen