Summerville Woman Continues Fight Against Pancreatic Cancer

Purple might have less endorsements and special products than pink, but one Summerville woman seeks to bring more national attention to pancreatic cancer.

Michelle Block will participate in her fourth Advocacy Day in Washington, D.C., to bring awareness to the disease that took her mother, Carol Craft, two years ago. Advocacy Day is with Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. 

The numbers are staggering: 75 percent of those diagnosed with the disease will die within the first 12 months. It's survival rate is 6 percent. To compare, breast cancer has a survival rate of 90 percent.

The 7th annual Advocacy Day is June 17-18 in Washington, D.C. Block has taken part in the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network event since her mother was diagnosed. 

While the PanCAN's signature legislation, the Pancreatic Cancer Research and Education Act, was signed into law, sequestration threatens National Institute of Health and the National Cancer Institute budget cuts. 

"Our 'ask' for Congress this year during the Pancreatic Cancer Advocacy Day will be to not make budget cuts, particularly in the case of a cancer that has historically received the minimum amount of research funding," Block said.

Can't go? Pancreatic Cancer Action Network asks you to call Congress. Click here to read more.

Block is also looking for volunteers to help spead awareness about the disease. 

"Unfortunately, here in South Carolina our volunteer base is insufficient to have a full affiliate," Block said.

Block said she will continue the fight, even with her mother gone. 

"Unlike breast cancer, pancreatic cancer does not have the survivors to continue to rally behind this cause ... It is up to the loved ones left behind to continue to fight for awareness and additional research funding so that future patients may have better survival odds," Block said. "So while my mother and her memory are my inspiration and my driving force, I continue to volunteer and advocate for this cause for those that may face it in the future, including my own children; so that others may have better odds of catching it earlier and surviving longer than my mother and so many others did."