Pancreatic cancer is the 4th leading cause of cancer death in the United States. It is the 3rd leading cause of cancer death among 40-59 year old men.Approximately 37,170 people will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer this year in the United States and 33,370 people will die from it. The number of Americans diagnosed each year of pancreatic cancer continues to rise unlike other leading cancers where an investment in early detection has led to a decrease in cancer incidences.For all stages of pancreatic cancer combined, the five year survival rate is only 5%; the lowest survival rate of all major cancers.The average life expectancy after diagnosis with metastatic disease is just 3-6 months. 52% of pancreatic cancer patients are diagnosed with metastatic.Pancreatic cancer affects both men and women of all races and varying ages. Men are 20% more likely to develop cancer of the pancreas than women. African Americans are 40-50% more likely to develop cancer of the pancreas than Caucasians.In 2006, an estimated $66.7 million dollars of the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) cancer research investment was spent on pancreatic cancer research. This is just 1% of the NCI’s $4.8 billion dollar cancer research budget for 2006.The country’s investment in cancer research over the last 20 years has led to a slight drop in 2006 in overall deaths due to cancer. This fact illustrates that our investment in cancer research is moving science forward in the most common cancers. However, the lack of progress in pancreatic cancer proves that we must continue to make federal funding of cancer research a priority. (www.pancan.org)