FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN)
Mourns the Loss of Willye White

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. USA (February 7, 2007) – The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) today expressed sadness over the death of Willye White, a world-renowned Olympic track and field athlete and dedicated humanitarian. White died from pancreatic cancer at the age of 67.

"We are deeply saddened at the loss of Willye, fellow advocate and friend. She was an important role model, both for her stunning athletic achievements and her inspired philanthropic work," said Julie Fleshman, president and CEO of PanCAN.

White was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and served as the keynote inspirational speaker at PanCAN’s "Weekend of Hope" in 2006, an annual symposium attended by pancreatic cancer survivors, caregivers, family and health care professionals to learn the latest information about the disease.

"We’re also sad because it often requires the death of a high-profile individual to bring attention to pancreatic cancer, a disease which is highly lethal, has few treatment options, and is extremely under-funded. In fact, from a scientific research perspective, pancreatic cancer is where breast cancer was in the 1930’s," continued Fleshman. "Pancreatic cancer is one of the few cancers where survival rates have not substantially increased over the last 25 years. The mortality rate from this disease has remained at 99 percent for many years."

Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the United States, and the third leading cause of cancer death among 40-59 year-old men, yet the disease received only one percent of the National Cancer Institute’s $4.8 billion cancer research budget for 2006.

According to Alison Klein, Ph.D., M.H.S., John Hopkins School of Medicine, "African Americans are 40-50 percent more likely to develop the disease than Caucasians."

"A tremendous amount of funding and scientific research are needed if pancreatic cancer research is to continue in a way that enables doctors, scientists and researchers to better understand its risk factors and how the disease develops," added Fleshman.

Other notable Americans who have died from pancreatic cancer include Dizzy Gillespie, Count Basie, Jack Benny, artist Rene Magritte, author Irving Wallace, Joan Crawford, Senator Emily Couric (Katie Couric’s sister), and many others.

Interview Opportunities:
• Julie Fleshman, president and CEO, PanCAN
• Dr. Alison Klein, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

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