ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — When Stephanie Mullin’s father was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2014, she initially didn’t know where to turn for support.
Very few people were familiar with it, she said, given that it had historically been seen as one of the more rare cancers—accounting for about 3 percent of all cancers.
She found the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network’s support hotline.
“Just the fact there was a live person on the other end who was passionate and caring,” she said.
In the years since Mullin's father’s death, pancreatic cancer has rapidly become one of the leading causes of cancer deaths.
Pancreatic cancer is now the third-leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States, surpassing breast cancer, according to the Hirsberg Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research. This year, it is expected to become the second-leading cause of cancer-related death in the U.S., surpassing colorectal cancer.
In wake of Jeopardy host Alex Trebek going public with his stage-4 diagnosis in 2019, Mullin believes it has increased awareness significantly.
"I think people are starting to realize this is something that’s affecting a lot of people and they want to get involved," she said. "There’s still so much that can be done."
That awareness was apparent Saturday morning at Vinoy Park in downtown St. Petersburg. More than 1,400 people participated in the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network Tampa’s ‘Purple Stride.’ The 5K race raises money for research, clinical trials and support for families with loved ones battling the disease.
This year’s event raised a record $259,000, event organizers said.
10News anchor and reporter Josh Sidorowicz helped emcee this year’s event.
- Polls open for South Carolina's Democratic primary
- US, Taliban sign peace agreement aimed at ending America's longest war
- 'I never got to give you my last name': Fiancé grieves after woman dies in I-295 crash
- Jungle Cruise boat full of passengers sinks at Disney World
- Person presumed to have coronavirus in Oregon works at elementary school
- K-9 deputy attacked by a venomous snake while searching for missing baby
- Skyway 10K guide: Everything you need to know to race
FREE 10NEWS APP:
