I knew very little about pancreatic cancer until the day the doctor informed us that my husband Mark was in stage 4 of pancreatic cancer. We had very little options at that point. He was only 47, we had been married for 23 years and had 2 daughter 14, and 19.

Our world was never going to be the same again. We were in and out of hospitals and doctor’s office searching for anything that could make a difference in the short time frame we had left. Mark was sick for 2 years before being diagnosed. Now that I am more familiar with the disease, and have become actively involved in the Chattanooga Affiliate of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network,  I am determined more than ever to make our doctors more aware about this awful cancer and help raise awareness and hope so that more research can be funded. We must give people hope when they are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. We know so little about why people get pancreatic cancer and I am concerned for my children and grandson that this might effect them in their own health. My life has changed forever because of this horrible cancer. We must find early detection and better treatment.We need more people to get involved and fight side by side with the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network against this terrible disease.