page_title: Pancreatic Cancer Action Network
section_title: Advocacy
hierarchical_section_title: Pancreatic Cancer Action Network / Advocacy
caption_attribution_description: English: Pancreaticcancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Today, my staff and I wore shades of purple to raise awareness. I encourage you to visit http://pancan.org to learn more &amp; join me in the fight against pancreatic cancer. #PANCaware
context_page_description: The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network is a United States-based 501 charity that funds research, provides patient/caregiver support, conducts community outreach and advocates for increased federal research funding for those affected by pancreatic cancer.
  Since the disease is projected to become the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the U.S. around 2020, the organization established a goal, called the “Vision of Progress, ” to double pancreatic cancer survival by 2020. The nonprofit seeks to fulfill the goal by spreading greater awareness and increasing funds for research to improve the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer.
  One way PanCAN raises awareness and funds is through the 5K walk/run event, PurpleStride. The events include more than 80,000 participants in nearly 60 communities in the United States, which are organized by local volunteer affiliates.
context_section_description: The Government Affairs & Advocacy office of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network was established in Washington, D.C., in 2006. As a result of the office’s efforts, Dr. Randy Pausch testified in support of the cause and PanCAN in the House Appropriations Subcommittee on L-HHS in 2008 about the need for increased funding for pancreatic cancer research.
  In 2008, thousands of supporters delivered nearly 19,000 communications to their federal legislators requesting greater research funding. The National Cancer Institutes (NCI) raised pancreatic cancer research funding from $73 million to $87 million.
  Over 11,000 political supporters relayed more than 26,000 messages to their congressional lawmakers in 2009, getting the NCI another $70 million.
  Around $135 million went to the NCI in 2010 as well because of the advocates’ actions, which was a major win since many federal programs were being downsized.
  In 2011, the Department of Defense's Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program (PRCRP) added pancreatic cancer. Approaching nearly $4 million, 12 research grants were dedicated to pancreatic cancer.
  The passage of the Recalcitrant Cancer Research Act in 2012 called for the NCI to create a strategic plan for pancreatic and lung cancers.
  From the founding of PanCAN in 1999 to 2013, NCI research funding for pancreatic cancer grew 500 percent, totaling over $100 million.
  The 21st Century Cures Act passed in 2016, authorizing an additional $4.8 billion in new funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), with $1.8 billion for the National Cancer Moonshot Initiative.
  In 2017, Congress approved the second $2 billion increase in a row for the NIH in FY17. Plus, $60 million in funding was approved for the Department of Defense's PRCRP, a $10 million increase over the previous fiscal year.
  The year also included the 10th anniversary of PanCAN's annual advocacy event called, “National Pancreatic Cancer Advocacy Day” in Washington, D.C., with hundreds of attendees, including survivors and their families, meeting with legislators to ask them to increase federal funding for cancer research.
caption: Congresswoman Alma Adams and her staff wearing purple in support of PanCAN in 2019.
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