Buckhannon mayor David McCauley signed a proclamation Thursday declaring November as “Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month” throughout the city.

The proclamation text is as follows:

WHEREAS in 2018, an estimated 55,440 people will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the United States and 44,330 will die from the disease;

WHEREAS pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest cancers, is currently the third leading cause of cancer death in the United States and it is projected to become the second leading cause around 2020;

WHEREAS pancreatic cancer is the only major cancer with a five-year relative survival rate in the single digits, at just 9 percent;

WHEREAS when symptoms of pancreatic cancer present themselves, it is generally in later stages, and 73 percent of pancreatic cancer patients die within the first year of their diagnosis, while 91 percent of pancreatic cancer patients die within the first five years;

WHEREAS approximately 295 deaths will occur in West Virginia in 2018, including 12 in Buckhannon and Upshur County:

WHEREAS pancreatic cancer is the seventh most common cause of cancer-related death across the world;

WHEREAS while overall cancer incidence and cancer death rates are declining, the incidence of pancreatic cancer and death rate for pancreatic cancer patients has been increasing. The number of new pancreatic cancer patients has been increasing. The number of new pancreatic cancer cases in the United States has been projected to increase by 55% between now and 2030.

WHEREAS the good health and well-being of the residents of Buckhannon are enhanced as a direct result of increased awareness about the symptoms and risk factors of pancreatic cancer, and research into early detection, causes, and effective treatments; therefore be it

RESOLVED that the Buckhannon City Council designate November as:

“Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month” in Buckhannon, West Virginia.

David W. McCauley, Mayor