Remember pancreatic cancer awareness in November and wear purple on Nov. 20

Guest column by Annette Fetty-Santilli

Looking back on October 2025, we all remember the many advertisements and promotions for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  We were surrounded with pink and pink ribbons, which bring a great deal of awareness to the cause and serve as a reminder to get a yearly mammogram.

However, it’s now November, a different month with a different color and another cancer awareness month.  November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, and the color is purple.  Unfortunately, there is no early screening available for pancreatic cancer.

I’ve been advocating for pancreatic cancer awareness since October 4, 2007, which is the day that my 38-year-old brother passed away from pancreatic cancer.  Until he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, just 18 months earlier. Because there is no early screening for pancreatic cancer, my brother was misdiagnosed numerous times, all the while his cancer was spreading.

By the end of 2025, an estimated 67,440 Americans will have been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the United States, and more than 51,750 people will have died. Pancreatic cancer has surpassed breast cancer and is now the third leading cause of cancer-related death. Each day, 185 people are diagnosed with this terrible disease.  The five-year survival rate is only 13%.  This is just sad.

November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, and it would be great if we could see just half the purple in November than that of pink in October. Specifically, Thursday, November 20 is World Pancreatic Cancer Day sponsored by the World Pancreatic Cancer Coalition. Everyone can join in, just by wearing purple. Let’s turn the world purple for just one day!

We must all work together with our elected officials to increase federal funding for pancreatic cancer research. This starts by raising awareness – even if it’s just wearing purple for just one day! I’m asking everyone who reads this to learn more about pancreatic cancer: go to www.pancan.org, and remember, wear purple on Thursday, November 20!

Annette Fetty-Santilli
Clarksburg, WV