Chris Van Hollen: “Mr. Speaker, for thousands of Americans, a doctor's diagnosis of pancreatic cancer is a devastating occasion that can…”

“Mr. Speaker, for thousands of Americans, a doctor's diagnosis of pancreatic cancer is a devastating occasion that can send patients and their families into a whirlwind of depression and despair. Every year, more than 33,000 Americans are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and even more startling is the fact that the overwhelming majority of those patients will die of pancreatic cancer. Only about 4 percent are currently expected to live beyond 5 years. As Mr. Davis said, pancreatic cancer is the fourth most common cause of cancer death in the United States. After years of research, we are not significantly closer to understanding what causes pancreatic cancer. Most cancers are caused by environmental, dietary or lifestyle factors, and most pancreatic cancer is believed to be no different. However, the specific link between the onset of pancreatic cancer and any one or a combination of these extraneous factors has yet to be determined. A significant body of research is developing around a possible hereditary link in pancreatic cancer, but even the results of these studies have shown that only 5 to 10 percent of cases have genetic links.”