About Us
Join our fight. Help us raise $200 million and double survival by 2020.
Founded in 1999, the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) is dedicated to fighting the world’s toughest cancer. In our urgent mission to save lives, we attack pancreatic cancer on all fronts: research, clinical initiatives, patient services and advocacy. Our effort is amplified by a nationwide network of grassroots support. We are determined to improve patient outcomes today and to double survival by 2020.
Why We Are Relentless Trailblazers
Pancreatic cancer takes 91 percent of its victims within five years and kills more people than breast cancer in the United States.1 The disease is the third leading cause of cancer-related death, and it is projected to become the second around 2020.1,2 More than 56,770 Americans will be diagnosed with the disease this year.1 That’s more than 155 mothers, daughters, fathers, sons, husbands, wives, sisters, brothers, colleagues or friends who will hear the dreaded news every single day.1
- Pancreatic cancer patients deserve better treatments and outcomes
Outcomes won’t improve without a greater investment in research - Research cannot advance without a strong scientific community pioneering breakthroughs
- A community for progress will not grow without elevating national awareness of the cause
1) American Cancer Society, Cancer Facts and Figures 2019. Atlanta: American Cancer Society.
2) Rahib L, et al. Projecting Cancer Incidence and Deaths to 2030: The Unexpected Burden of Thyroid, Liver, and Pancreas Cancers in the United States. Cancer Res. 2014;74
How We Fight the World’s Toughest Cancer
We have a proven track record of taking on incredible challenges and meeting our goals. We shape policy, mold opinion and firm up funding. We don’t take no for an answer.
Hope doesn’t always mean action, but action is our middle name. We are the only organization with a nationwide grassroots army, inspiring over one million people to take action to end pancreatic cancer. We serve the community as the one organization that attacks the disease through four key areas:
Scientific Research
We pioneer and push science forward through our nationally acclaimed grants program and the cultivation of a thriving research community.
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Patient Services
We revolutionize the approach to treating pancreatic cancer by connecting patients with the latest treatment options and providing free, in-depth disease information.
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Government Advocacy
We demand federal funding for research and advocate for legislative support by lifting up our voices to keep pancreatic cancer at the forefront on Capitol Hill.
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Community Engagement
We lead and activate communities across the globe into a purple tide of humanity that draws greater awareness and funds to fight the disease.
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The Results When We Take Action
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93%
93 percent of our respondents told us they felt more knowledgeable after speaking with a Patient Central Associate
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$87M
Raised over $87 million for the cause through our community events from 2008 to 2016
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Earned Charity Navigator's highest four-star rating for sound fiscal management and transparency for 15 years in a row
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$104M
Generated a total research investment of approximately $104 million
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900%
Boosted National Cancer Institute funding for pancreatic cancer by 900 percent since starting our efforts in 1999
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184,000
Patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals have called upon our organization more than 184,000 times for support.
Our History of Achievements
From our beginning as a three-person nonprofit to our role today as a nationwide network supporting the pancreatic cancer community, the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network has made significant progress fighting this deadly disease. View a few of our achievements below.
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The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network was founded by Pamela Acosta Marquardt, Paula Kim and Terry Lierman.
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Inaugural One Voice Against Cancer advocacy days held in Washington, D.C.
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40 volunteer affiliates established nationwide who raised nearly $364,000
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Government Affairs & Advocacy office opens in Washington, D.C., and first international affiliate launches in Japan
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25,000 patients and caregivers have been served by our call center
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Established the Deadliest Cancers Coalition focused on addressing policy issues related to cancers that have five-year relative survival rates below 50 percent
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Since 2003, we funded 66 research grants, representing a cumulative investment of approximately $10 million
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Recalcitrant Cancer Research Act signed into law requiring the National Cancer Institute to develop a strategic plan on how to fight pancreatic cancer
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Nearly 82,000 people participated in our PurpleStride, the walk to end pancreatic cancer, raising more than $10.5 million
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Launched Know Your Tumor ® precision medicine service that uses molecular profiling to provide patients and their doctors with information about the biology of their tumor
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Launched Clinical Trial Finder online tool with the most comprehensive and up-to-date database of pancreatic cancer clinical trials in the U.S.
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Led the creation of the World Pancreatic Cancer Coalition (WPCC) representing 40 pancreatic cancer advocacy groups from around the globe
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Thanks to the actions of thousands of PanCAN advocates, Congress approved the second $2 billion increase in a row for the NIH in FY17. Plus, $60 million in funding was approved for the DoD’s Peer-Reviewed Cancer Research Program.
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PanCAN received an unprecedented $25 million gift – the largest donation in the history of the organization – to honor the memory of Skip Viragh, one of the country’s most influential mutual fund investment experts.
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Precision Promise launches as the first adaptive clinical trial platform for pancreatic cancer patients in the world.
Our Vision of Progress
After seeing too little progress in pancreatic cancer survival for far too long – the only major cancer with a five-year survival rate in the single digits – we put a stake in the ground to double survival by 2020. We also set a goal to raise $200 million by 2020 to ensure that we accelerate progress by carrying out a full-scale plan to overcome five key challenges:
Who We Are
Our dedicated staff and passionate volunteers Wage Hope every day for a cause neglected far too long. Get to know the women and men who are leading the charge for all those impacted by this disease, including our president and CEO Julie Fleshman.
Wage Hope with Us
Wage Hope is our battle cry that expresses the spirit behind everything we do. This is not the “cross your fingers” kind of hope. It’s a hope with teeth, because there is no one way to defeat pancreatic cancer. It’s going to take an all-out effort. By working together, we will break new ground, push boundaries, change rules, command attention, empower change, and uplift lives. Join our fight. Help us raise $200 million and double survival by 2020.
