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November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month. Pancreatic cancer is one of the nation's deadliest cancers with a five-year survival rate of just 9 percent. It's a disease that kills more people than breast cancer in the U.S.
Pancreatic cancer claimed the life of Franklin Aretha in August 2018 and Michigan Opera Theater champion David Dichiera a month later in September.
Jerry Lawrence, 65, is grateful for their families shared the diagnosis.
The Detroit resident was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in August 2017.
"[I] started with some tummy aches, breads in my stomach. I was like what is that? "Lawrence recalled.
He had also been diagnosed with diabetes.
A CT scan revealed he had stage 4 pancreatic cancer. He could not believe it.
"I had never been sick in my life. 'Dude! Where? Are you sure? ' He remembered asking the doctor.
The oncologist gives him three to six months to live.
Lawrence sought a second opinion at the U of M Cancer Center. He has been undergoing chemotherapy treatments ever since.
Family and friends having helped with medical bills.
Legendary boxer Tommy Hearns was at a recent fundraiser.
Lawrence has also started working with the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network to raise awareness and important funding for early detection methods.
"We do not need to catch this early. When you're catching it so late, it just becomes so difficult to try and attack. And part of the reason for that is just vague, "explained Pancreatic Cancer Action Network volunteer Loredana Gianino.
But it is important to know those vague symptoms.
PANCREATIC CANCER SYMPTOMS
- Abdominal gold bread mid-back bread
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- nausea
- Jaundice
- Change in stool
- Recent onset diabetes
If you are experiencing one of these unexplained symptoms, see your doctor.
Here is a link to a list of Risk Factors provided by pancan.org.
Lawrence focuses on staying positive.
A lapel pin his niece designed sports his own motto – "Always on the positive tip!"
And his sister feels him proudly in his living room.
"'I can. I will. End of story, '"read Lawrence." Meaning I will defeat. I will be a survivor. And I'll have a story to tell. "
World Pancreatic Cancer Day is Thursday, November 15.
If you'd like to support the effort, you can wear that day and spread the word about the warning signs of this disease.
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