Paducah Holds PurpleLight Vigil Sunday

The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network of Western Kentucky will host a PurpleLight Vigil for Hope on Sunday, November 20 at 4:30 p.m. at Lourdes Hospital Marshall Nemer Pavilion in the Borders Community Room.

“Paducah is one of 55 national PurpleLight Vigil for Hope events across the country,” said Carol Foreman, local Pancreatic Cancer Action Network community representative. “The candlelight vigil will honor the memory of those who fought pancreatic cancer and celebrate the survivors, while raising community awareness about the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Over 110 people have already registered to attend.”

Dr. James Gould, caregiver Donna Groves and volunteer Wesley Fox will offer remarks and local musician Eddie Windhorst will perform. Pre-register at http://www.pancan.org/purplelight/ by Friday or register at the vigil Sunday afternoon. The vigil is free and open to the public.

The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network is the national organization creating hope in a comprehensive way through research, patient support, community outreach and advocacy for a cure. The organization is leading the way to increase the survival rate for people diagnosed with this devastating disease through a bold initiative—The Vision of Progress: Double the Pancreatic Cancer Survival Rate by 2020. Together, we can know, fight and end pancreatic cancer by intensifying our efforts to heighten awareness, raise funds for comprehensive private research, and advocate for dedicated federal research to advance early diagnostics, better treatments and increase chances of survival.

Wear purple and join us!

Get the Facts!

Thanks to Alan Reed and the Paducah Sun for this important coverage on pancreatic cancer!

Get the facts

by By ALAN REED areed@paducahsun.com The Paducah Sun
Nov 09, 2011

Pancreatic cancer has the lowest survival rate of all types of cancer, including cancers of the lung, colon, breasts and prostate.

Dr. James Gould, a Paducah oncologist, said an average of 37,500 new cases of pancreatic cancer are diagnosed each year. Of those new cases, 35,000 will die within a year.

“There are two reasons why pancreatic cancer is the deadliest type of cancer,” Gould said. “First is we often only diagnose pancreatic cancer when it has spread beyond the ability for surgery to remove the tumor. That’s the only cure. And second, treatments don’t work to stop the cancer’s growth.”

Carol Foreman is a community representative for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. She said she lost her father to pancreatic cancer last year and volunteers as an advocate in his memory.

“Many people like my father may have cancer for 20 or 30 years, but never know about it because there are no screenings or tests for early detection, and the symptoms are very vague,” Foreman said.

Gould said symptoms from the cancer are often misidentified as indigestion, gall bladder disease, food poisoning or other conditions. The lack of blood tests, X-rays or other screenings to reveal the cancer make early detection impossible. Gould say risk factors include Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, smoking and a family history of pancreatic cancer.

“Efforts have been made to address the disease, but we’ve found a block at every turn in the road. Research has tried blood tests, imaging, chemotherapy and radiation therapy,” Gould said. “We just don’t know of anything that would effectively add to the fight at this point.”

Gould said as most pancreatic cancer is advanced when detected, many patients have few options. Surgery may not remove the tumor from the body and the cancer may metastasize to other parts of the body. Treatments like chemotherapy and radiation may provide some patients with a few additional months, at the expense of a declining quality of life because of side effects.

Foreman said her organization provides advocacy for additional research. It also lobbies Congress for research funding. The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network provides its Patients and Liaison Service that provides a regular point of contact for people diagnosed with cancer to provide information about the disease, treatment options and to answer patients’ questions.

The PALS program also offers information to families and caregivers with its survivors and caregivers network, and allows them to speak with others facing similar circumstances. She called on more people in western Kentucky to volunteer to educate others about pancreatic cancer or to advocate for more research.

To volunteer, learn more about pancreatic cancer, or to contact PALS, call 877-272-6226 or visit www.pancan.org.

No Greater Love.... How Lovely!

Local musician Eddie Windhorst will lend his vocals to the PurpleLight Vigil for Hope Nov. 20 at 4:30pm at Lourdes. Beginning Friday through Nov. 20, Eddie will donate 100% of his "No Greater Love Than This" CD sales to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. CDs are $10.00 and may be purchased on the below sites. Thank you, Eddie, for blessing us with your talent and for your generous spirit!

*digstation.com/eddiewindhorst; cdbaby.com/eddiewindhorst; amazon.com/eddiewindhorst; and "Eddie Windhorst" on Itunes*

Be serenaded by Eddie this Friday at the Pasta House from 6-8pm!

This is SO SWEET!

Y'all please go to Sweet CeCe's at 2929 James Sanders Blvd. today between 5pm and 9pm. 20% of sales will benefit the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network! Thanks to one of the sweetest places in Paducah for raising awareness for this important cause!

Paducah Hugs Back

During the month of November, join Tempur-Pedic in the fight against pancreatic cancer. Although pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death in the US, only 2% of the National Cancer Institutes's annual budget is spent on researching the disease. But you can help!

Stop by any participating retailer, try a Tempur-Pedic mattress and $10 will be donated to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network!

Paducah friends: Go to America's Mattress at 451 Jordan Dr., right near the Pasta House! To find other participating retailers near you, visit tempurpedichugsback.com!

Keep up with the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network of Western Kentucky on FB.

Film Festival Fully Loaded!

Loved IList's ILove Historic Paducah feature about this weekend's River’s Edge International Film Festival at Maiden Alley Cinema.

Films include romance, comedy and drama, plus you can meet the film makers! Be sure to check out Fully Loaded Friday and Saturday at 1pm. Tix to the film festival are $5 at the door.

I'm working projection this weekend and if you want to volunteer too, contact Johanna Rhodes at Etcetera Coffeehouse in LowerTown (320 North 6th Street). The festival is a fun way to get involved in the community and to learn more about the art of filmmaking.

Know it, Fight it, End it!

Lourdes Hospital will glow purple each evening this month for Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month.

McCracken County Judge Executive Van Newberry Tuesday read a proclamation declaring November as Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month for McCracken County and also read a proclamation from Governor Steve Beshear. The City of Paducah issued a proclamation last week in recognition of awareness for this deadly disease.

Keep up with our local Pancreatic Cancer Action Network of Western Kentucky on FB and join us at any of these upcoming events:

Sweet CeCe's Nov. 7 from 5-9pm. 20% of sales will benefit the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.

PurpleLight Vigil For Hope Nov. 20 at 4:30pm at Lourdes Hospital. Honor survivors and remember loved ones. Register at purplelight.org.

Paducah Christmas Parade Dec. 3 at 5:30pm. Walk with us as we celebrate the holiday season!

Volunteers meeting Dec. 8 at 6:30pm at Purple Toad Winery.

Meet Your Maker's

The Carson Center's six annual Distiller's Dinner was the best one yet! Over 140 attendees enjoyed a Southern gourmet dinner by Artisan Kitchen, complete with a Meet Your Maker's chocolate cheesecake. Maker’s Mark Chairman Emeritus Bill Samuels Jr. spent the evening sharing family stories, bourbon and laughs. The dinner was sponsored by Roof Brothers Wine and Spirits. Find pictures from the night here!